Kawhi Leonard didn’t take long to show the Clippers why he’s essential to this team. Returning to Charlotte after missing six games with an ankle injury, the winger had 16 points and 6 rebounds in the game against the Hornets.
“It feels good to be back”he confided to ESPN. “I love basketball, I don’t think anyone loves playing more than me. No doubt people like to watch more than I do, but I love this sport. I’m happy when I can play it. »
Leonard did more than sign his return, he was decisive for Los Angeles. In the last seconds, he scored two very important baskets, the second of which at mid-distance on the head of Terry Rozier, gave the victory to the Clippers.
“The ending was great because I was able to put this shot”, he continues. “We were ahead by eight or nine points throughout the match, I would have preferred to conclude before leaving in a suspenseful end to the match. »
Paul George, author of 19 points, also back after several absence matches, and Tyronn Lue enjoyed the show offered by the MVP of the 2014 and 2019 Finals in the “money time”.
“As soon as we see Kawhi in this position, we are calm because we know that he is comfortable”, explains the winger. “It was huge” adds the Clippers coach. “It will help him find his rhythm. »
| Kawhi Leonard | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 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 | 5 | 22 | 42.2 | 13.3 | 76.9 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 10.0 |
| Total | 581 | 31 | 49.3 | 38.3 | 85.8 | 1.2 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 19.2 | |
