George Karl On Leonard: “We’re Big Fans”

Mar 29, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks during the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers at the AT
He has been mentioned as the future of the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard has grown as a player that many were questioning when the Spurs traded away fan favorite George Hill to receive Leonard in the draft.
In just his second season in the NBA, Leonard has shown improvement in many areas from his rookie season. He has been deemed as the Spurs defensive stopper. He has the task of being across Spurs’ opponents best player and has done a remarkable job with that.
This year, in my eyes, he has been more aggressive in the open court. In the open court, there is one thing on his mind and that is to finish strong. He has done that many of times delivering jaw dropping dunks to ignite not only the fans but his teammates as well.
Not only does he have the respect of his teammates, but Leonard is always getting praise from coaches around the league. The San Antonio Spurs will be meeting the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, and Head Coach George Karl has some good impressions about Leonard after their meeting back on March 27th stating “We’re big fans”.
“We actually had this discussion the other day – Pop has this way of elevating guys into stardom. I don’t think he’ll get there this year but I have a feeling he’ll have a more major part in the carousel of superstars that come out of San Antonio.
In that article with Garcia, Karl also states the attributes that make Leonard such a promising talent.
“Early in his career, it’s his tenacity. He plays at a high level. He’s a high engine guy,” said Karl. “He’s a good defensive player who has the passion to be a factor in different ways. He has a commitment to any possession that very few players have.”
Spurs fans need to sit back and watch what is to come from Leonard. When you get praise from some of the best coaches in the NBA, that means something.
He truly will be a treat to watch for the next decade.