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Kawhi Anthony Leonard (, born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Leonard is listed as a small forward at 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) and 230 lb (104 kg). He played college basketball at San Diego State University (SDSU) and was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. Leonard won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Leonard attended Canyon Springs High School before transferring to King High School his junior year. Leonard's senior year, he and Tony Snell led the King High Wolves to a 30–3 record. Leonard averaged 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.0 blocks per game that year and won California Mr. Basketball.[1] He was the #48 ranked prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com[2] and committed to San Diego State University (SDSU).
As a freshman at San Diego State, Leonard averaged 12.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.[3] Leonard helped lead the Aztecs to a 25–9 record and the Mountain West Conference (MWC) tournament title. SDSU received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament[4] but lost to Tennessee 62–59 in the first round as Leonard recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds.[5] Leonard led the MWC in rebounding and was named MWC freshman of the year, first team All-MWC, and the 2010 MWC Tournament MVP.[6]
Leonard's sophomore season, he averaged 15.7 points and 10.4 rebounds [7] as the Aztecs finished with a 34–3 record and won back-to-back conference tournament championships.[8] Leonard and San Diego State would once again make the 2011 NBA Draft.
Leonard was selected with the 15th overall pick in the
On January 18, 2008, Leonard's father, Mark, was shot and killed at the Compton car wash he owned.[31][32] The murderer has still not been identified.[33][34][35]
After missing the final six preseason games and the season opener against Dallas due to an infection in his right eye caused by conjunctivitis, Leonard made his season debut against Phoenix on October 31 despite still suffering from blurry vision.[29] He continued to play through the blurred vision and on November 10, 2014, he scored a season-high 26 points in the Spurs' 89–85 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.[30]
The Spurs and the Miami Heat met once again in the NBA Finals. On June 10, 2014, in Game 3 of the series, Leonard scored a career-high 29 points in a 111–92 victory.[23] San Antonio went on to win the series 4–1. Leonard averaged 17.8 points on 61% shooting and was named NBA Finals MVP.[24][25] He was the third-youngest player to win the award (22 years and 351 days),[26] behind only Magic Johnson—who won in both 1980 (20 years and 278 days) and 1982 (22 years and 298 days).[27][28] Leonard was also only the sixth player, first since Chauncey Billups in 2004, to win Finals MVP in a season in which they were not an All-Star.[25]
On April 6, 2014, Leonard tied a then career-high 26 points in a 112–92 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.[21] He would finish the season averaging 12.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals while shooting 52.2% from the field. Leonard helped the Spurs to a 62–20 record; the number one seed in the NBA. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the first time.[22]
The San Antonio Spurs advanced to the NBA Finals where they faced the Miami Heat. Leonard averaged 14.6 points and 11.1 rebounds during the Finals as the Spurs lost the series in seven games.
Leonard was selected to play for the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge where he was once again drafted to Team Chuck.[19] He recorded 20 points and 7 rebounds as Team Chuck defeated Team Shaq for the second straight year 163–135.[20]
On October 26, 2012, the Spurs exercised the team option on Leonard, re-signing him through the 2013–14 season.[18]
In the summer of 2012, Leonard was among several NBA up-and-comers chosen to play for the 2012 USA men's basketball Select Team. They trained with the Olympic team which featured Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and others.[17]
"“I think he’s going to be a star. And as time goes on, he’ll be the face of the Spurs, I think. At both ends of the court, he is really a special player. And what makes me be so confident about him is that he wants it so badly. He wants to be a good player, I mean a great player. He comes early, he stays late, and he’s coachable, he’s just like a sponge. When you consider he’s only had (two years) of college and no training camp yet, you can see that he’s going to be something else.”
At season's end, Leonard placed fourth in Rookie of the Year voting[14] and was named to the 2012 All-Rookie first team.[15]
Leonard and teammate Tiago Splitter were selected to play in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge as members of Team Chuck. Although he suited for the event, he did not play due to a calf strain.[13] After starter Richard Jefferson was traded to the Golden State Warriors for Stephen Jackson, Leonard was promoted to the starting small forward position while Jackson served as his backup.
[12], he signed a multi-year deal with the Spurs.NBA lockout On December 10, 2011, following the conclusion of the [11]
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