Who better than Norman Powell to gauge the evolution of Kawhi Leonard as a leader? Teammates in 2019 in Toronto, they won a title together, and they find themselves in Los Angeles. Clearly, it’s a new Kawhi that we will discover in a few days.
” I clearly see a different Kawhi on the pitch, with more personality, more laughter, more fun to be here and to live the collective moments. underlines Norman Powell in the LA Times. ” We clearly see more interaction, he speaks to everyone. I don’t want to say he wasn’t doing it in Toronto, but you really see the fun in him when he steps onto the court and interacts with others on a daily basis. So that’s really good.”
There is of course maturity behind this change in behavior, but also, according to Tyronn Lue, the simple pleasure of playing again after a white season.
” I think he’s very happy to be back sums up the Clippers coach. ” I know he does all of this to set an example for the guys. Just by her voice, like practice the other day at USC [jeudi]. The guys started having fun and he got them together and said, ‘Let’s play for real and let’s get together’, and the guys started playing more seriously. »
Like Norman Powell, Tyronn Lue is well placed to place since he had Kawhi Leonard as an opponent and as a player. ” I don’t think he would have done that two or three years ago. I think he and Paul are more vocal because it’s their team, and Kawhi has clearly taken huge steps in that area.. »
“If Kawhi does this, I have to do it too”
Talking more is also a way to get back into the rhythm.
” I also know he wants to get back to his habits because he hasn’t played for 15 months. continues Tyronn Lue. ” He wants a maximum of habits, he wants to play as much as possible. And that’s why in each training session, we play a lot… Just to let him find the rhythm“.
In training, the coach is also not shy about addressing Leonard and lecturing him during drills. Norman Powell believes it has an influence on others.
” When T-Lue tells him to do a drill over and over again, in different positions, and he tells him he’s screwing up, those are things that feed a team without necessarily stopping and giving a speech. We tell ourselves that if Kawhi does this, I have to do it too. We then see him interacting more and smiling, and it’s clearly good to watch.. »
