San Antonio Spurs: David Robinson on the Kawhi Leonard saga’s fallout

David Robinson went on The Jump to discuss the San Antonio Spurs’ trade of Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.

Even with the Kawhi Leonard trade completed, mysteries remain on how and why the communication between him and the San Antonio Spurs broke down, mostly due to the public silence. Reports became the primary source of info on the fracture, rather than a rare Leonard quote.

Spurs legend David Robinson went on Monday’s edition of The Jump (h/t MySanAntonio.com) to discuss the Leonard fallout. He called it “one of the oddest situations” he’s ever witnessed in his professional basketball career.

Robinson also said he attempted to contact Leonard several times, but never heard back from the controversial superstar, and did not add when that took place. Though, he noted a conversation with Leonard’s uncle, who sat near the forefront of the months-long saga.

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Robinson’s amazement over the situation sold it all, as it was difficult to read since the first reports of miscommunication developed in January. Leonard’s final public appearance for San Antonio in March, and the prolonged absence on the sidelines, only pushed it towards an unusual direction and led to where everything is today.

Robinson noted the Spurs reputation of taking care of their players “too much.” He lasted there for his entire career (1989-2003) and Tim Duncan followed suit (1997-2016). While Tony Parker broke the mold, he still played 17 years in the Alamo City (2001-2018), but Manu Ginobili still remains, for now (2003-present). Leonard was expected to join that group, but it’s no longer the case.

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Instead, San Antonio will rely on DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge as their centerpieces, with young players, Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker IV, Jakob Poeltl and others to supplement what they bring to the court. It should make the 2018-19 season one of the most interesting in Spurs history, behind 2017-18’s ride.