Kawhi Leonard Watch has reached yet another day without a conclusion, and antsy fans who thought he’d announce his return to playing for an NBA team based in the United States on July 4 were wrong.
Instead, post-Independence Day, as of Friday morning, we’re still waiting, and the intensity of that wait has become a circus: Fans continue to freak out on Twitter (check out the replies to every Adrian Wojnarowski tweet the last few days) and throw out conspiracy theories. News helicopters have followed SUVs that might have Leonard in them. Even Snoop Dogg has gotten in on the act.
Can we just hold on a second and actually look at Leonard through a different lens?
Think about what Leonard is doing. He could very easily see the Los Angeles Lakers are the choice with so much upside — he gets to play with the best player in the world in LeBron James and a top-10 talent in Anthony Davis. He’ll play in his home state and put on the same uniform worn by countless legends. They’ll be the title favorites immediately and for years to come.
The Clippers would also get him back to California and he’d join a really, really tough defense squad that could grind out wins night after night.
In Toronto, he’ll be defending his title with the Raptors and continuing to be a centerpiece as opposed to a member of an All-Star trio. And if, as reports suggest, he’s looking to sign a long-term deal instead of taking something shorter and trying this again next year, then he’s taking his time because it’s a MONUMENTALLY HUGE decision. Wojnarowski also reported teams have been warned not to leak info during this process, which probably helps Leonard block out all the noise and concentrate.
All of that is admirable. That’s human, too, hardly robotic like everyone jokes about with Leonard. Let’s also remember that free agents like Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker had a lot more time off than Leonard, who just finished winning and celebrating a title.
So pump the brakes. Give the man some space and applaud that he’s being thoughtful and thorough about this. Be patient and be ready to react to how this news could shake up the entire league.
That’s more than worth waiting for.
