Will Kawhi sit on the bench during the playoffs?

[YGWHI]

I mean, the entire basketball world is giving SA props for making the playoffs for 21 straight years; a truly remarkable feat giving the cir stances.

Kawhi is not dumb. He knows the optics of everthing. He see’s the fans dying for the playoffs and the team, especially the older guys like Manu, giving their all to deliver the playoffs. Kawhi, even if it’s not the “norm” for him should be happy and should know that saying something publicly would go a long way to showing the fans and his teammates he’s there with them even when he’s not.

May sound trivial but that’s the way this stuff works.

If he was KD of that type of player that tells media and fans what they want to hear...Obviously he should do it.

But you know that Kawhi's not that guy.

It would easy for him to call his social media manager or his agent "hey..make sure people know I congrat my guys for making playoffs"

Again, that's not him.

That's why I trusted him when he said he wanted to be a Spur for life..Obviously injuries, trades can happen. But since he doesn't give a about media/what other people think about him, I truly believe he was sincere.

[DPG21920]

That’s a reasonable stance. However he has to know that many fans don’t feel that way and it’s pretty dismissive of the fan base to not celebrate with team with him not playing, not being there and giving 0 updates since leaving the team in the middle of a huge playoff push to rehab in NY.

[SpursDynasty85]

If he was KD of that type of player that tells media and fans what they want to hear...Obviously he should do it.

But you know that Kawhi's not that guy.

It would easy for him to call his social media manager or his agent "hey..make sure people know I congrat my guys for making playoffs"

Again, that's not him.

That's why I trusted him when he said he wanted to be a Spur for life..Obviously injuries, trades can happen. But since he doesn't give a about media/what other people think about him, I truly believe he was sincere.

I hope you're right but you know the Spurs would like him to be more vocal. His absence has really affected the locker room. Understandably he has a lot of say in what he wants to do but if your employer is giving you 20 mill and they want you to speak up and be more vocal, resisting that could be a sign of dissent and something deeper. I'm sure the whole Spurs organization hates this circus. Media running wild doesn't help.

[daslicer]

Kawhi reporting to his uncle during the playoffs:

[tholdren]

Durbeta

[Russ]

Or maybe he went to NY to get the green light for a PO come back...

How long does it take for a light to turn green?

In case people haven't noticed, Kawhi is now a "nonperson" in the Spurs world.

The broadcasts never even mention him now. That likely comes "straight from the top" as Jack would say. (Even the imbicileic Matt Bonner knows not to let his name slip out.)

The reporters know better than to ask Pop a question about "him" -- he no longer exists.

[duncan2k5]

Let me clarify my point since it went over your head. He hasn't done enough to clarify what is going on with his injury. If he did, his own teammates wouldn't need to call a meeting to get a status report. If he did, there wouldn't be media reports of him coming back on a certain date only for it not to happen. His last presser he said he was expecting to come back soon and we're one game before the playoffs and it still hasn't happen. Imagine if Kawhi played for NY or LA, there is no way the media would allow this bs to continue and I'm not talking about the injury itself but his approach of not communicating what the is going on. I've never seen anything like it. As a fan of his and the team, it has been a real disappointment.

His teammates didn't call a meeting... Tony Parker called it... No one is gonna not show up when a HOF player calls a meeting... Regardless of whether or not they feel the same way he does... (which they reportedly don't)

[duncan2k5]

It doesn’t look like he will be back to play another game with the Spurs. No update and not being near the team isn’t a good sign. Too many uncertainties that I don’t see how the Spurs would pony up a Supermax a player who uses his own training staff and leaves the team in the dark for a entire season. How much longer would he sit out after he got a supermax and had a worse injury like PG? Did he even have surgery on the injury? I understand Kawhi is quiet but he’s not even around, and much less doesn’t even trust the Spurs organization for rehab.

Literally everything u said is untrue

[Keepin' it real]

Serious question for non-snowflake Spurs fans only, not for Kawhi player fans or anyone who needs a safe space on a regular basis:

Do you fear that Kawhi is (at least a little) mentally challenged?

He almost NEVER talks, and that's not hyperbole. The rare times he does talk, he sounds like a shy uneducated 10 year old. Is that why his uncle has taken over? Because Kawhi lacks the mental capacity to handle his own affairs, so the family has intervened on his behalf.

[bic50]

Serious question for non-snowflake Spurs fans only, not for Kawhi player fans or anyone who needs a safe space on a regular basis:

Do you fear that Kawhi is (at least a little) mentally challenged?

He almost NEVER talks, and that's not hyperbole. The rare times he does talk, he sounds like a shy uneducated 10 year old. Is that why his uncle has taken over? Because Kawhi lacks the mental capacity to handle his own affairs, so the family has intervened on his behalf.

I don't think so

[Leetonidas]

No. Hes mentally raped after the team called his ass out. He ain't coming back. So no point in hoping he's sitting on the bench chewing on his tongue with a glazed look in his eyes like an autist

[YGWHI]

I hope you're right but you know the Spurs would like him to be more vocal. His absence has really affected the locker room. Understandably he has a lot of say in what he wants to do but if your employer is giving you 20 mill and they want you to speak up and be more vocal, resisting that could be a sign of dissent and something deeper. I'm sure the whole Spurs organization hates this circus. Media running wild doesn't help.

As tholdren says... "YGWHI knows "

Seriously, we don't know if they asked him to talk with media. In fact, this team has always been secretive I doubt they want to let the door open to media guys, asking Kawhi to give more interviews.

I get your point, I'm just saying that there are too much speculations on something that could be as simple -and worrisome- as a severe quad injury.

We won't know the truth until the summer.

[UZER]

Literally everything u said is untrue

Thank you Jake Skywalker.

[Leetonidas]

Sad to see posters like duncan2k5 so incredibly in denial and making excuses for Leonard's sorry ass left and right. Smh

[bic50]

Rodman was the league leader in rebounds, a 6 time all nba defender and a 2x dpoy. Arguably better indovidual awards than kl.

Only the playerfans thought kl was more than a second option

Wtf? Kl literally won those same awards and was a better offensive player. The last part is just stupid.

[bic50]

Sad to see posters like duncan2k5 so incredibly in denial and making excuses for Leonard's sorry ass left and right. Smh

Damn some of you are taking this pretty hard.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Serious question for non-snowflake Spurs fans only, not for Kawhi player fans or anyone who needs a safe space on a regular basis:

Do you fear that Kawhi is (at least a little) mentally challenged?

He almost NEVER talks, and that's not hyperbole. The rare times he does talk, he sounds like a shy uneducated 10 year old. Is that why his uncle has taken over? Because Kawhi lacks the mental capacity to handle his own affairs, so the family has intervened on his behalf.

It's highly possible he does have aspergers... He does show the signs

[acoelho1]

Kawhi had setbacks after he said he would came back soon, Danny said it, RC said the same since one day..."his rehab hasn't been simple, and it hasn't gone in a linear fashion”

A player wants to return and his body doesn't allow him to do it. It isn't the first time this happens in the league.

Do you want that Kawhi to say this? At some point, he will do it. It's too early to talk about his injury again, when the team has playoffs games to play..

RC has been radio silent for quite awhile now. As for Danny, all he said is he had a few setbacks and didn’t give any indication of when or what happened. I don’t care what Danny says anyways. It’s like wanting to hear from Jordan and they trott out John Paxton to give us vague updates. Just look at what happened a few weeks ago. Pop intimated that we were reaching a deadline that it wouldn’t make sense to bring back Kawhi and what happened, Kawhi was back with his team shortly there after and said he would be back soon. Pop was asked the same question again a week or so ago and he basically said why would we put a deadline on it. It seems pretty clear Kawhi and/or his camp wasn’t happy about the not so subtle pressure from Pop. Nevertheless, I don’t care if he’s injured but his stature in the game require more than he has given in terms of his status. If you don’t think this whole thing is extremely bizarre than you must be his biggest KL fanboy.

[YGWHI]

Sad to see posters like duncan2k5 so incredibly in denial and making excuses for Leonard's sorry ass left and right. Smh

Do you know his history? duncan2k5 is a survivor, you have to be tough to live some situations in real life. I guess that's why he feels empathy for Kawhi.

Sure, this guy, me, you, someone else could be in denial. At least he's loyal. Gotta respect it.

After I read his posts about hurricane I felt so dumb for worrying about stupid things in my life.

Again, better to be loyal than being like other Spurs fans here "Manu's God" yesterday... "Manu should retire" after Clips game....

[duncan2k5]

Sad to see posters like duncan2k5 so incredibly in denial and making excuses for Leonard's sorry ass left and right. Smh

You'll see...

[YGWHI]

If you don’t think this whole thing is extremely bizarre than you must be his biggest KL fanboy.

I would think is bizarre if we're talking about a player who usually makes things public, deal with media every night and shows his life.

Just an example. LeBron, Manu, Parker, every player has pics of his kids on social media. Can you find a photo of Kawhi's baby girl?

He won't talk about everything what fans want to hear, he won't show anything to the world.

However, I guess he'll talk about his injury in next days/weeks.

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

Rumor has it Kawhi is still slouched over in a port-a-potty in New York trying to wipe his ass

[tbdog]

So he is out for the last game.

[Joseph Kony]

Do you know his history? duncan2k5 is a survivor, you have to be tough to live some situations in real life. I guess that's why he feels empathy for Kawhi.

Sure, this guy, me, you, someone else could be in denial. At least he's loyal. Gotta respect it.

After I read his posts about hurricane I felt so dumb for worrying about stupid things in my life.

Again, better to be loyal than being like other Spurs fans here "Manu's God" yesterday... "Manu should retire" after Clips game....

what does that have to do with Kawhi being a little ? grasping at straws tbh...

[MoSpur02]

The whole situation is mess, which is why it's best not to address when the team needs to focus on the playoffs.

He's handled this injury/situation all wrong. If he was a scrub no one would care and wouldn't expect him to say anything, but this guy is a top 5 player on the entire league. Injured or not he should have spoken to the public more than once.