Astute basketball fan Thomas Duffy made the Bleacher Report proud by unearthing the little known moment when Kawhi Leonard actually became a superstar. Sure, Leonard has never been better than he is today, scoring 45 points in a vicious take-that performance in the Toronto Raptors win against the 76ers in Game 1. But it was back when Leonard was just 21 that he was anointed as a major factor on an NBA playoff basketball court. And the only way you can get anointed is by The King.
Check out LeBron “King” James below on the foul line. James is about to add another point to the Miami Heat total when the buzzer sounds. That means San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is making a substitution. A pretty common occurence, but check out LeBron James’s face when he realizes that it’s Kawhi Leonard coming in for Danny Green. That face is pure frustration. Now keep in mind that Green is known as a first-rate defender, but Green doesn’t bother James like Leonard does — obviously. It’s a great NBA moment for fans, especially Leonard fans, to savor.
No Kawhi playoff moment will top this. Put real fear in the baddest man on the planet as a 21-year-old. pic.twitter.com/LoYflAmqM3
— Thomas Duffy (@TJDhoops) April 28, 2019
