We have a shot at the reigning champs without their best player and you're medically

[keithington1]

We have to win game 1 or 2

[Leetonidas]

Man, some of you cats are cold-blooded.

Last year, Kawhi was the GOAT and the heir to Duncan's throne.

Less than a full year later, he is a wimp, a head-case, and a cancer.

I'm as disappointed with the situation as anyone, but damn...cool your jets people.

If Kawhi actually does come back healthy and sign his supermax, gonna be a lot of crow to be served up around here.

I'll gladly eat that crow. But for now this guy. Quit on his team basically

[YGWHI]

Well, for instance, he didn't say he had a setback, so everyone was waiting for him to show up the last two or three weeks of the season. He didn't say he was going to get another opinion from his doctor. He hasn't said whether he will be available to play in the next two weeks. That's my point. Does he have to answer every report? No, but periodic updates that aren't based on social media accounts, uninformed teammates, or media speculation would be nice.

You talk like he knows how his quad willl react...RC already said "This rehab hasn't been simple and it hasn't gone in a linear fashion" You know what this means, his quad's fine a few days, then bad again.

For example, we should know if he is close to coming back to the playoffs or if he is out without speculating. He's been unwilling to clarify the situation the entire time and it has created more doubt and speculation, and not less.

Players don't rule themselves out for a season/playoffs...Teams tell the league and make it public. The Spurs have to say this, not the player.

[phxspurfan]

This.


I was pissed, too, to not see him behind the bench and/or forcing a comeback, but then I had to put myself in Kawhi's mindset, and I can see what he's thinking...get better. Sitting behind the Spurs bench at a game doesn't help him rehab.


Kawhi is a basketball player. He loves the game. I still believe he wants to be a Spur and has always felt like the Spurs are his team. For all the people who act like he's mentally re ed, it's funny that these same people can sit back and say he's this mastermind who's forcing the Spurs into a trade, willing to sink the success of an organization that has done so much for him. All for what? Endorsements? A chance to be close to his old stomping grounds? Stupid rumors. That's not Kawhi. All the guy knows is basketball.

I think he's desperately trying to save his career right now, trying to get healthy, and probably has no idea, or concern, for how his absence appears to the fans, and maybe some of his teammates. I think mentally he's a basketball robot, and his focus is on getting healthy, and he really could care less what people think about that. If anything, the old farts on the team should be counseling him instead of bashing him publicly. Tony Parker diminished in my eyes when he did that, especially when you consider how the Spurs organization protected him with his scandal with Erin Barry.

Oh, and as for wanting to get back to Los Angeles...would you want to move back to the city where your dad was murdered? I doubt that place is so special in his heart that he he's willing to waste one of his few precious prime years of basketball to get back there.





Do I think he will be a Spur next year? I do. That or he'll retire.

I don't think anyone's accusing him of being some evil mastermind. In fact, if forced to guess, I would assume he's your typical stupid athlete. Selfish, and surrounds himself with morons who are really just taking advantage of him and trying to take his money (his uncle, from what we can see via the stories/hearsay).

In short, Kawhi is nothing close in personality to guys like Robinson (one of the smartest, nicest guys I've ever even heard of) or Duncan (one of the most selfless, pure winners, if not business savvy), along with Manu (selfless winner, jack of all trades on the court, risk taker, loyal, family man). Kawhi just seems like a kid by comparison, who fortunately started his career in one of the best organizations in all of pro sports during one of their peak dynastic years.

Leonard is a product of the Spurs' development, utilizing his innate physical talents and building on his inner strength to build an incredibly talented ball player. But if I was a betting man, he will not finish his career as a Spur.

[YGWHI]

In short, Kawhi is nothing close in personality to guys like Robinson (one of the smartest, nicest guys I've ever even heard of) or Duncan (one of the most selfless, pure winners, if not business savvy), along with Manu (selfless winner, jack of all trades on the court, risk taker, loyal, family man).

Only Kawhi? No one in the league. Who among top players? KD? Curry? Harden? CP3?...Nah.

I guess some non-Spurs fans would say LeBron, they're wrong. He's just team-LeBron, he has manipulated GMs, coaches, teammates..LBJ isn't close in team-first approach to the game/team-culture, to Tim, DRob.

Fans here should assess reality and adjust expectations.

[BatManu20]

He ain’t coming back bruh. Time to let it go

[jbspurs]

It was all Pops fault. He turned him into a softy... Kawhi wanted to play last years playoffs even though he wasn't 100% healed, Pop decided not to play him. Now, he only wants to play when he's 100% healthy or whenever he wants..

[Budkin]

Man, some of you cats are cold-blooded.

Last year, Kawhi was the GOAT and the heir to Duncan's throne.

Less than a full year later, he is a wimp, a head-case, and a cancer.

I'm as disappointed with the situation as anyone, but damn...cool your jets people.

If Kawhi actually does come back healthy and sign his supermax, gonna be a lot of crow to be served up around here.

Pretty much how I feel. It's hard for me to think Kawhi is being a little and instead is just being the mute he's always been.

[vander]

Well, for instance, he didn't say he had a setback, so everyone was waiting for him to show up the last two or three weeks of the season. He didn't say he was going to get another opinion from his doctor. He hasn't said whether he will be available to play in the next two weeks. That's my point. Does he have to answer every report? No, but periodic updates that aren't based on social media accounts, uninformed teammates, or media speculation would be nice. For example, we should know if he is close to coming back to the playoffs or if he is out without speculating. He's been unwilling to clarify the situation the entire time and it has created more doubt and speculation, and not less.

Yep, NBA exists for the fans, they are paying him 19 million this year, they deserve to be kept updated on why they aren't getting anything for that 19 million. Instead they are being strung along and almost lied to.

[Stabula]

Curry is their best player? Since when? Dude is as over hyped as a player gets. I think he was the first in history to win MVP and win a ring but NOT win FMVP

[David Stern]

Curry is their best player? Since when? Dude is as over hyped as a player gets. I think he was the first in history to win MVP and win a ring but NOT win FMVP

FINALLY!!!!!! Somebody who says this about Curry. The guy is really good but calling him their “leader” is bull . He wanted Durant on the team. He failed as a leader when push came to shove. He was rattled in 2016 when Lebron rejected him and then threw his mouthpiece into the crowd out of frustration. Then he bricked so many critcal 3’s in the late 4th quarter of GAME 7 with a ing championship on the line.

[dbreiden83080]

Man, some of you cats are cold-blooded.

Last year, Kawhi was the GOAT and the heir to Duncan's throne.

Less than a full year later, he is a wimp, a head-case, and a cancer.

I'm as disappointed with the situation as anyone, but damn...cool your jets people.

If Kawhi actually does come back healthy and sign his supermax, gonna be a lot of crow to be served up around here.

Yeah give him the supermax.. then he can miss 6 months with a hang nail..

[daslicer]

Yeah give him the supermax.. then he can miss 6 months with a hang nail..

And a demand a trade to LA.

[dbreiden83080]

Curry is their best player? Since when? Dude is as over hyped as a player gets. I think he was the first in history to win MVP and win a ring but NOT win FMVP

At least after he sprains an ankle he actually you know comes back that season.

[sananspursfan21]

That horse ain't waking up!

[Chinook]

If Kawhi actually does come back healthy and sign his supermax, gonna be a lot of crow to be served up around here.

I don't remember if you were the one who essentially said this a little while back. But I disagreed with that then and disagree with it now. This has done permanent damage to my perception of Leonard. I can get behind the idea that the dude is legit hurt. I'm not saying I believe it, but if Kawhi and the team move on and stay together while maintaining that's what this was, I'll defer to them. However a) I'll never feel comfortable with that contract given his injury and b) I'll never trust him to handle a trying situation well, at least in terms of transparency to the media, fans and teammates. He can't come out of this unscathed in that regard. He's always going to look like a shaky bet to give the franchise to. I'd completely understand PATFO trading him even if I knew for sure Kawhi was just hurt and has recovered by the time next season rolls around.

[ducks]

Maybe Leonard likes trump and is teaching pop a lesson

[YGWHI]

This has done permanent damage to my perception of Leonard.

This guy and his "perception of Leonard"...

"not talented enough" "his defense is overrated" "can't be the #1 option on a compe ive team" "he just needs to trot to the corner and wait"

[Play Boban]

This.


I was pissed, too, to not see him behind the bench and/or forcing a comeback, but then I had to put myself in Kawhi's mindset, and I can see what he's thinking...get better. Sitting behind the Spurs bench at a game doesn't help him rehab.


Kawhi is a basketball player. He loves the game. I still believe he wants to be a Spur and has always felt like the Spurs are his team. For all the people who act like he's mentally re ed, it's funny that these same people can sit back and say he's this mastermind who's forcing the Spurs into a trade, willing to sink the success of an organization that has done so much for him. All for what? Endorsements? A chance to be close to his old stomping grounds? Stupid rumors. That's not Kawhi. All the guy knows is basketball.

I think he's desperately trying to save his career right now, trying to get healthy, and probably has no idea, or concern, for how his absence appears to the fans, and maybe some of his teammates. I think mentally he's a basketball robot, and his focus is on getting healthy, and he really could care less what people think about that. If anything, the old farts on the team should be counseling him instead of bashing him publicly. Tony Parker diminished in my eyes when he did that, especially when you consider how the Spurs organization protected him with his scandal with Erin Barry.

Oh, and as for wanting to get back to Los Angeles...would you want to move back to the city where your dad was murdered? I doubt that place is so special in his heart that he he's willing to waste one of his few precious prime years of basketball to get back there.





Do I think he will be a Spur next year? I do. That or he'll retire.

How’s the Kool-Aid tbh?

[Play Boban]

Pretty much how I feel. It's hard for me to think Kawhi is being a little and instead is just being the mute he's always been.

Unless Kawhi has an IQ of 50, in which case he doesn’t belong anywhere near a basketball court, he’s an asshole, not a mute. Get with the program tbh.....

[FireMicoHalili]

Lol cliff jumpers. He’s probably going to play a full year next year and a lot of people will have to backpedal. Wusses getting swayed by their emotions

[Spurtacular]

Storybook redemption story opportunity (comes back to face team that purposely took him out).

No pride. Worried about his mega paycheck in LA.

[offset formation]

If he doesn't even show up on the bench then he'll be dead to most Spurs fans. Time for Kawhi to get the out of New York and at least root the team on. This whole show of Kawhi being medically cleared to play for months and not saying a damn peep to anyone became an ordeal of madness months ago

Yep.

[Spurtacular]

Lol cliff jumpers. He’s probably going to play a full year next year and a lot of people will have to backpedal. Wusses getting swayed by their emotions

I guess you missed the memo. He's angling for a trade, bro.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I don't think anyone's accusing him of being some evil mastermind. In fact, if forced to guess, I would assume he's your typical stupid athlete. Selfish, and surrounds himself with morons who are really just taking advantage of him and trying to take his money (his uncle, from what we can see via the stories/hearsay).

In short, Kawhi is nothing close in personality to guys like Robinson (one of the smartest, nicest guys I've ever even heard of) or Duncan (one of the most selfless, pure winners, if not business savvy), along with Manu (selfless winner, jack of all trades on the court, risk taker, loyal, family man). Kawhi just seems like a kid by comparison, who fortunately started his career in one of the best organizations in all of pro sports during one of their peak dynastic years.

Leonard is a product of the Spurs' development, utilizing his innate physical talents and building on his inner strength to build an incredibly talented ball player. But if I was a betting man, he will not finish his career as a Spur.

There's really nothing favorable to Kawhi's career to purposely hold out. That's where I think all the doubters are wrong. I think, in his mind at least, that he's honestly incapable of playing. Remember, he's sat out before with very minor issues that most guys would have played with.

My concern is that Kawhi might decide he can't go at all if he's not 100%, and in that case his career is almost over. I doubt Tim, David or Manu felt 100%, ever, after about 5 years in the league. Tim's knees were "degenerative". The Admiral's back was "degenerative". Kawhi may have to face the fact that he might not get back to where he wants to be, health-wise, and decide whether or not he can play with constant pain. If not, he'll be done. I don't think it's selfishness. I just think he's not someone accustomed to dealing with injury or playing through it. The aging process won't treat him well if that's the case.