What if? What if injuries could be turned off in real life the way players of the NBA 2K franchise are able to remove them from factoring into their playing experience? Who, of the countless individuals who suffered career-altering injuries, would history view differently?
Names such as Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, and Brandon Roy are among the players who are commonly mentioned, but no What If? player has ever realized as much of their potential as Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard's career is a tale of extraordinary highs and excruciating lows. He's won individual awards and led his team to resounding success, going toe-to-toe with the faces of the modern generation and emerging victorious as the Finals MVP.
Leonard has even been the light fighting back the darkness at a time when defense was a polarizing conversation, proving that a perimeter player could dominate on both ends of the floor.
Unfortunately, Leonard has also been miscast as the face of load management as he navigates a career sabotaged by real and legitimate injuries. He's missed 206 regular-season games due to a laundry list of ailments since leading the Toronto Raptors to their only championship in 2019, and has played in just six of the Clippers' 23 playoff games since 2021.
During Game 2 of LA's first-round series against the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Apr. 21, Leonard reminded fans of what was—and what may yet be.
Kawhi Leonard's story isn't over yet
Leonard entered the 2025 NBA Playoffs with a résumé that a superstar who never missed a game would be thrilled to possess. He's a two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-NBA honoree, and seven-time All-Defense selectee.
For perspective: Leonard and Hakeem Olajuwon are the only players in NBA history with at least two Finals MVP and two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Leonard showed those who wrote him off that it's too soon to believe he can't add to that already impressive tally. He dominated Game 2 against Denver, finishing with 39 points, five assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a block on 15-of-19 shooting.
Leonard scored 12 points in the fourth quarter alone, reminding everyone who forgot that he's one of the greatest postseason performers of the modern era.
For Raptors and San Antonio Spurs fans, it was a flashback to the unforgettable performances he produced in their uniforms. For the Clippers, it was confirmation that their hope was well-founded that he could one day return to that level.
For Leonard, it was a cathartic experience that made him feel grateful for simply being healthy and available to play. Per Law Murray of The Athletic:
“I’m just happy that I’m able to move and coming out the game feeling well,” Leonard said. “That’s what I’m taking my pride in, is just being healthy. I’ve sat and watched these playoff games and series for the past few years. So being able to be in the front line out there, it just feels good for me, no matter which way the game goes.”
Leonard is one of the most profound talents in NBA history, and if his goal of being able to move on to the next game at 100 percent is realized, that's a win for the sport.
For the Clippers, it's proof that they're every bit the contender that their two-time Finals MVP makes any team he plays for.