Why'd Spurs' Pop and Parker Leave Kawhi Leonard Out of Hall of Fame Speeches?
SAN ANTONIO - A few people who listen or watch my podcast have reached out to ask why neither Gregg Popovich nor Tony Parker recognized Kawhi Leonard during respective Hall of Fame speeches this past weekend.
There isn't any doubt that Leonard was the best player on the 2014 NBA Championship team. The San Antonio Spurs were desperate to avenge the 2013 Finals loss to Miami. There is a strong case to be had they wouldn't have been able to without Kawhi. When he wasn't frustrating and bottling LeBron James on defense he was a menace offensively in one of the most efficient team efforts in NBA Finals history. Leonard was the easy choice as series MVP.
That's when it began to unravel.
The shocking divorce between Leonard and the Spurs led to bad blood that still boils on occasion in South Texas. It is well known that Leonard took offense to comments made by Parker who suffered a similar knee injury in subsequent years. Parker made a speedy recovery while Leonard did not and still battles knee issues to this day. Leonard felt like Parker was accusing him of not only milking his injury but of also using it as an excuse to let the bad feelings with the Spurs fester.
There isn't anyone in San Antonio who thinks they would have won the title without Leonard. Few of them just want to admit. The break up was that bad.
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