At some point, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker will retire or decline, leaving the fate of the San Antonio Spurs in Kawhi Leonard’s hands. Such a transition has been rumored for years, but only now are we starting to see it.
Kawhi Leonard is finally becoming the Spurs’ go-to guy
The long-suspected evolution of the Spurs is starting to happen. Kawhi Leonard is slowly taking responsibility from the Spurs’ Big Three and is thriving in the role.
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After a slow start to the season, Leonard has emerged as one of the Spurs’ go-to threats. He’s second on the team in scoring and finally upped his usage rate -- the percentage of possessions he finishes while on the floor -- to well above the 20 percent threshold that separates primary options from role players. Tony Parker still drives the engine, but with Duncan and Ginobili pacing themselves for the long season, Leonard has often been the finisher.
The Spurs are running more plays for Leonard, though they are best classified as different options in their normal offense than specific isolation sets designed for Leonard and Leonard only. This game-sealing three-point play against the 76ers is an exception -- it was a set designed specifically for Leonard in a tight spot -- but also illustrates the Spurs’ willingness to give Leonard more responsibility.
And yes, it’s all part of the plan, as Gregg Popovich confirmed in his blunt way to Michael Lee of the Washington Post:
“We’re trying to loosen up a bit and give him more of a green light,” Popovich said. “He’s getting more license. When you’re a young kid, you’re going to defer to Timmy and Manu and [Tony]. Now it’s like, ‘To heck with those guys. The Big Three, they’re older than dirt. To hell with them. You’re the Big One. You’ve got to go do your deal.’ So, we’re trying to get him to be more demonstrative in that regard.”
Leonard is certainly soft-spoken, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of desire for taking on this role. As SB Nation’s Pounding the Rock notes:
Just don’t confuse coachability with being meek. Even if he won’t say so, Leonard wants the ball and it’s obvious that he thinks he’s ready.
The next step therefore isn’t necessarily loosening him up, as Popovich notes publicly. It’s sharpening Leonard’s tools, which includes his post-up skills, his ability to read help defenses and his ball-handling. What better way to do so than by giving him experience in November games the Spurs can win anyway without really exerting themselves?
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