Kawhi Leonard on Jim Rome today

[Creation88]

i will update when Rome announces a time.

98.1 The Ticket on IHeartRadio or CBS Radio app.

[davidbowie]

cool thnx

[look_at_g_shred]

Tight. I wonder how recent it is.

[apalisoc_9]

Subbed. Hopefully one of yo guys can record the interview..Might miss this one

[Creation88]

sometime in the 1st hour. 1115-1200

[Spur|n|Austin]

Awesome, thanks for the heads up! :tu

[Creation88]

next segment

[Spur|n|Austin]

http://betaplayer.radio.com/player/cbs-sports-radio (http://betaplayer.radio.com/player/cbs-sports-radio)

[apalisoc_9]

http://betaplayer.radio.com/player/cbs-sports-radio (http://betaplayer.radio.com/player/cbs-sports-radio)

thanks

[sahoopster]

Got it just in time! Thanks!

[apalisoc_9]

Kawhi

"I want to be one of the best players in the league"

kawhi on the draft

" I was expecting to be drafted from 5 to 15"

Kawhi

"The regular season this year felt like forever"

[Creation88]

fast transcript:

What was the mood like in locker room
Great feeling.. unfortunately didn’t keep lead up. Good we had a close game like that.

After game, pop’s take?
He was happy we got the win. Pop always focuses on our mistakes. Happy we kept our composure.

What happened last year?
It is in the back of my mind. We were 2 games away. Focus and get game 3. Mindset we are down 0-2.

Expect in Memphis?
Expect it to be loud. Grizz will play aggressive. They haven’t lost there all year in the playoffs.

GS series?
onThompson: oh yeah (I took it personally). My job is to lock down on defense. He still knocked down some tough ones.

Pride on Defense?
I take a great deal of pride in it. Defense wins championships. Whatever I could do to reach our goals.

Coming out party on offense?
Oh yeah. Just focused on helping the team. Teammates have been helping to get my confidence up.

Franchise player?
Feels great. Means a lot for me. I’ve been working hard my whole life. My hard work is playing off a little bit. He’s not going to hand me the team if I’m not improving.

Overlooked coming out of the draft…attending SDSU?
It was positive. I just wanted to go to a college that loved my game and was seeing my game in high school. SDSU recruited me in my junior year.

Draft night? How high did you ?
I thought I was going to go 5-15. I wasn’t shocked. I’m happy with the decision of the Pacers trading me to the Spurs.

Thoughts on trade?
I knew Pacers had a lot of wings. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I took it for what it was. Was happy Spurs wanted me.

Duncan?
He’s been great. Getting me better each and every game and at practice. Showing me tricks of the game.

Popovich?
He can be intimidating. Sarcastic. You never know when he’s playing around. He loves to win and he’s a competitor.

How’s the post season now as opposed to last year?
More comfortable on the court. Know how tough and physical the games are. Just being able to play all season going from 33 games to 82 games. Just being focused and wanting to compete for a championship.

Living in SA?
It’s been great. I like SA. Laid back city. Only pro team with great fans. Arena is always full. Slow paced compared to California. Just having family around.

[DarrinS]

Good kid. He's got time to polish his interview skills.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Some notes from the interview:

On locker room after game – Great feeling in locker room after the game last night

On Pop’s take – Happy with the win, though he’s focused on the 4th quarter mistakes.

On last year’s WCF – “Still fresh” and on KL’s mind.

On playing in Memphis – Expects it to be loud, and they will be aggressive. Need a focused mindset from the beginning of the game.

On the GS series – It was a personal challenge guarding Thompson.

On being lead defender – Take’s a “great deal of pride” in it. “Defense wins championships.”

On another “face of the franchise” question – It feels great to hear that, I’ve been working hard, and it’s good to know it’s paying off. He’s not going to hand me the team if I’m not improving each day.”

On overlooked by teams after HS – Positive thing for him, SD kept recruiting him after his JR year and he stuck with them.

On Draft – “thought I was going to go anywhere from 5th to 15th. Not shocked at all where I went, and happy with the decision on the pacers trade to spurs. “I knew the Pacers had a lot of wings, so didn’t know what was going to happen, then 20 seconds later I was traded to the Spurs.”

On TD in OT last night – Teammate – “He’s been great, watching me and getting me better each day by giving me tricks.”

On playing for Pop – “it can be intimidating; you don’t know when he’s serious or joking around.” He’s a great coach who likes to win, similar to his self because he likes to win games.

On this post-season vs. last – Much more comfortable now knowing how physical it really is. Last season seemed like forever compared to this season.

On playing in SA – “I like San Antonio, it’s a laid back city, we have great fans, the arena is always full". Slower paced than California.


*EDIT* - You beat me to it Creation88 (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=8560)!

[Budkin]

Love the kid

[davidbowie]

i missed it oops

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Thanks for the transcript! :tu

[Creation88]

Good kid. He's got time to polish his interview skills.

why? i loved the dullness.

[T Park]

Another in a long line that you can just deem, a typical Spur.

[Dizzle]

thanks for the transcript fellas.. love kawhi and love this interview

[crc21209]

Thanks for a recap of the interview guys...:tu

[Warlord23]

Here's hoping he'll stay a Spur for a long long time. Personality-wise he is perfect for this team.

[capek]

Enjoyed listening to it live. He might not be the most exciting to listen to, but he's definitely gotten better since last year. lol

[emanueldavidginobili]

Wow KL was born to be a Spur tbh

[mercos]

Thanks for the transcripts. This guy is such a great fit for this team between his style of play and attitude. I really hope he becomes the Spurs next superstar.

[LarryDavid]

If anyone wants to hear it.... http://jimrome.com/2013/05/22/5222013-rodgers-mccutchen-slur-gio/

Interview starts around the 13 minute mark.

[lefty]

I love this mindset :tu

SPurs were a bit overconfident last year after winning the first 2 games



What happened last year?
It is in the back of my mind. We were 2 games away. Focus and get game 3. Mindset we are down 0-2.

[SupremeGuy]

Thanks for the transcripts. Great job guys.

[Libri]

why? i loved the dullness.

Compared to Blair, Leonard sounds like Shakespeare.

[50 cent]

Favorite young player.

[davidbowie]

Why doesn't Jim Rome come on in SA any more?