“ It was probably his worst shooting match in six weeks… » When a journalist makes this remark concerning Kawhi Leonard, Tyronn Lue giggles. “ You said six weeks, at some point this sort of thing happens! », Reacts the Clippers coach with a smile, to better highlight the impressive level of play of his star since December.
Facing the Lakers last night, “The Klaw” actually delivered his smallest outing since November 25 during a match against the Mavs (8 points at 2/12 on shots): 15 points (6/17 on shots) and 8 rebounds. A match marked by his return to the bench, three minutes from the end, while his team was only trailing by three points.
The winger will not return to play until 17 seconds from time, the match being still very undecided, but on the verge of swinging in favor of the Lakers. The latter had taken eight points at the start of the quarter. This is where Kawhi Leonard was sent, replacing Paul George.
Sent back to the floor at the start of the fourth
“ I told myself that we needed him, because the match was getting away from us a little. So when PG came out, bringing Kawhi in a little earlier than normal, he played extra minutes early in the quarter rather than at the end. It's my responsibility, the decision I made, to bring him back. He did a good job bringing us back », justifies his coach whose team signed a 9-0 in this sequence.
No question of exploding the playing time of Kawhi Leonard, already mobilized for 35 minutes. “ He was close to his minutes restriction and we have a game tomorrow (tonight, in Phoenix). We have five matches in eight days », Lue even figures, adding: “ So you have to be smart, especially since he's coming back from injury. »
Frustrated the five-time All-Star who, after four missed matches, has played 33 minutes (Heat), 40 minutes (Phoenix) and 30 minutes (New Orleans), since his return? “ I would love to be on the field and playing, but it is what it is. We have other matches to play, it happened like that tonight. »
It should be noted that over the entire season, the double MVP of the finals plays an average of 34.5 minutes each evening, unheard of in his career so far.
| Kawhi Leonard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | SAN | 64 | 24 | 49.3 | 37.6 | 77.3 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 5.1 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 7.9 |
| 2012-13 | SAN | 58 | 31 | 49.4 | 37.4 | 82.5 | 1.1 | 4.9 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 11.9 |
| 2013-14 | SAN | 66 | 29 | 52.2 | 37.9 | 80.2 | 1.2 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 12.8 |
| 2014-15 | SAN | 64 | 32 | 47.9 | 34.9 | 80.2 | 1.3 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 16.5 |
| 2015-16 | SAN | 72 | 33 | 50.6 | 44.3 | 87.4 | 1.3 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 21.2 |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 74 | 33 | 48.5 | 38.0 | 88.0 | 1.1 | 4.7 | 5.8 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 25.5 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 9 | 23 | 46.8 | 31.4 | 81.6 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 16.2 |
| 2018-19 | TOR | 60 | 34 | 49.6 | 37.1 | 85.4 | 1.3 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 26.6 |
| 2019-20 | LAKE | 57 | 32 | 47.0 | 37.8 | 88.6 | 1.0 | 6.1 | 7.1 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 27.1 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 52 | 34 | 51.2 | 39.8 | 88.5 | 1.1 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 24.9 |
| 2022-23 | LAKE | 52 | 34 | 51.2 | 41.6 | 87.1 | 1.1 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 23.8 |
| 2023-24 | LAKE | 30 | 35 | 52.1 | 43.8 | 87.6 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 24.4 |
| Total | 658 | 32 | 49.7 | 39.1 | 86.0 | 1.2 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 19.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
