Stopping: Kawhi Leonard

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Kawhi Leonard is a 27 year old with a Hall of Fame resume, he forced his way out of the NBA’s model franchise, and outside of Kevin Durant no player’s free agency decision this summer will have bigger ramifications around the league than Leonard’s. Yet, somehow Leonard seems to fly under the radar. Prior to his First Round match-up against the Orlando Magic, Kawhi Leonard’s last postseason game ended in controversy as Zaza Pachulia ended Kawhi’s playoffs early in the second half of Game One of the 2017 Western Conference Finals. The injury sparked debate, causing the league to change rules about giving shooters landing space, and eventually played a role in Leonard’s messy exit from San Antonio last summer. The ensuing drama that stemmed from that injury can make it easy to forget that when Leonard got hurt the Spurs led the Warriors 78-55 at Oracle, with Kawhi contributing 26 points. Without their star, San Antonio wilted at the Warriors talent, giving up a 26 point lead and eventually getting swept.

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