Kawhi Leonard is quite easily one of the greatest two-way forces the NBA has ever come across. He’s done it all and won championships to back it up, yet still, there is something holding his greatness back: the day commissioner Adam Silver decides whether to punish Leonard after deeming him guilty for cap circumvention or let him off the hook with enough evidence that he did no wrong. This will ultimately affect how Leonard is remembered.
Tim Bontemps on ‘The Hoop Collective’ calls it a curse, as the seven-time All-Star is playing the best basketball of his career just before the one offseason where the Clippers’ franchise could be changed forever.
The entire situation is unfortunate, particularly for fans. It’s robbing them of happiness and joy when watching Leonard play at an MVP level. This is because, in the back of their minds, they cannot help but overthink the potential consequences.
Kawhi Leonard’s All-Time stature will be tarnished forever if he is found at fault
Kawhi Leonard is already one of the greatest small forwards to ever touch the basketball court. Two rings, two Finals MVPs, seven All-Star appearances, and numerous other honors say it all, and hold a large amount of weight in comparison to those on his level.
Additionally, what Leonard has done this season only does him more of a favor in All-Time debates, as in 51 games, he’s averaged 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. In the process, he tied the Clippers’ all-time scoring record and helped complete one of the most remarkable team turnarounds in the history of the game.
That’s elite of the elite, and feats that only a few with the right mindset, work ethic, and commitment to their craft can accomplish.
How could it all be stained tremendously for the rest of time? If Adam Silver discovers that Leonard was, in fact, wrong for receiving money under the table in cooperation with Aspiration, a tree company whose focus is to save the environment.
Additionally, it wouldn’t just be his legacy as a megastar that would change, but also the one he's built with the LA Clippers over the years. He could quickly go from a player worthy of having his number retired to one that fans would never be able to look at the same.
Leonard’s injury history has already cast a shadow on his career, so it’s hard to imagine how much it’ll grow if he’s penalized for something extremely severe.