SAN ANTONIO — Kawhi Leonard, at age 23, broke from routine before Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was led to midcourt by Tim Duncan, who presented Leonard with the N.B.A. Defensive Player of the Year award. Leonard, who typically shows about as much emotion as a lamppost, even managed to crack a smile.
The symbolism in the moment was obvious. There was Duncan, on the eve of his 39th birthday, making an exchange with a much younger teammate — even if Duncan hesitated for an instant before handing him the trophy, as if it were difficult for him to let go.