"We always talk about how Zion’s body looked now, but we ain’t talking about Kawhi’s body" - 7x NBA champion believes Kawhi Leonard and LA Clippers are getting overlooked as contenders
After missing all of last season, Zion Williamson and Kawhi Leonard are set to return, looking better than ever, for the 2022-23 NBA campaign. Both superstars will be hoping to lead their respective teams, the New Orleans Pelicans and the LA Clippers, to the playoffs.
Williamson’s body transformation has the NBA buzzing with excitement, but Robert Horry feels like Leonard has been overlooked in the hoopla. Here’s what the seven-time champion had to say on “The Crossover” podcast about “The Claw’s” potential big year:
“They [Clippers] probably end up with the best record in basketball because they have the deepest bench. We always talk about how Zion’s body looked now, but we ain’t talking about Kawhi’s body. He looks just like Zion’s body. They’ve been in the lab in the offseason."
Great convo w/the legend @RKHorry on the Crossover pod, including thoughts on:
• the Draymond saga
• Westbrook as sixth man
• Rob's best & worst ring nights
• The real reason for his notorious hip-check of Steve Nash
Listen/subscribe: link.chtbl.com/crossover https://t.co/yHycrPCB9f
Kawhi Leonard last played in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals between the LA Clippers and the Utah Jazz. He ended that night with 31 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes. It was supposedly just a tweak in his right knee, which allowed Leonard to say “I’ll be good.”
Further tests showed a partially torn ACL, which forced him to miss all of last season. The two-time NBA Finals MVP has now only played 109 games in three years with the LA Clippers.
Stephen A. Smith even called out the two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner for having been mostly unavailable in his Clippers’ career:
"That damn Kawhi Leonard has gotten off the hook long enough. Enough of this. When we talk about a cat that is an absolute professional at missing games, Kawhi [Leonard], nobody beats him."
He added:
"This brother misses more games than a little bit and we never say anything because Kawhi Leonard don't talk and because he doesn't talk and he doesn't make headlines with anything but his game, we've given him a pass. ... You gotta play bro. You gotta play. I assure you he ain't missing checks. Can we see you play please?"
@stephenasmith"When we talk about a cat that is an absolute professional at missing games, Kawhi [Leonard], nobody beats him. ... Can we see you play please?"
👀 @stephenasmith https://t.co/baP2O3i3mW
Kawhi Leonard has certainly made the most of his time off. LA Clippers teammates have raved about his physique and conditioning and how he should be dominant on the court next season. With “The Claw” in full strength, the Clippers are expected to be one of the elite teams in the entire NBA.
Kawhi Leonard will be a scary matchup, according to Paul George
Paul George, Kawhi Leonard’s buddy and teammate, swears by the two-time champ’s improved physique and conditioning. Here’s what “PG13” had to say about Leonard in an interview with ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk:
"He's gotten bigger, he's stronger, he's ready. It's scary. He's put more muscle on. He's a scary matchup for anyone that has to guard him."
Here’s my conversation with Paul George on why he didn’t take any time off this off-season except to get married, on “scary” Kawhi and how he understands “the assignment… winning it all.” twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/3J8hl9qUfV
In two preseason games, Leonar seems to be operating at well below 100%. He has shown flashes of his old self, particularly in his lethal mid-range game, but has largely taken it easy.
Kawhi Leonard has admitted he hasn’t played pick up games or even 5-on-5 scrimmages in the offseason, so he’s slowly getting to basketball form. If he has really improved his conditioning the way Paul George described it, the LA Clippers may yet win their first franchise championship.