Los Angeles Clippers star man Kawhi Leonard has been one of the best players in the NBA for some time now. The former Defensive Player of Year has grown in stature in the last decade and now he is one of the biggest names in the NBA.
It is true that Leonard did not get into the groove as soon as he joined the Clippers. But this season he has been exceptional for Tyronn Lue’s men as they sit in the fourth position in the Western Conference.
Just like other players, Leonard is also excited about the postseason and especially what follows after the season, the Tokyo Olympics. He spoke to the media after the All-Star game where he shared his excitement to play in the Olympics and how players were ready last summer but due to COVID-19 the event got postponed and how the excitement has died ever since.
“I think a lot of people were in for 2020. But the Pandemic just pretty much killed everything. Right now, my plan is to go. It really doesn’t matter the success. If I’m feeling up to it around that time, then I’m going to play. There’s no people around, there’s no entertainment. Look what we’re doing now, we’re doing a zoom call. There’s no excitement off the floor.”
The 29-year old will be a huge boost for Team USA heading into the Olympics. Over the past few Olympics, some of the star players have been hesitant to spend their postseason playing for their country. But with the NBA being so dominant, Team USA always used to come up with players who can win them the Gold and maintain their dominance at the Summer Games.
The Clippers are considered as one of the title contenders this season and given the way Leonard has performed they definitely hold some chance for sure. But they will face some tough challenges from the Lakers, and even the Utah Jazz have been in the groove this season and the two teams are considered to reach the Conference finals this season. The Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets are also in the mix from the Eastern Conference and are expected to go deep in the Championship run. So it will be interesting to see if Leonard and company can bring the trophy home this season.
