is Kawhi Leonard Fed Up With The Clippers ?

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Kawhi Leonard is undoubtedly one of the best players this league has seen in a long time. However, after his stunt on the Toronto Raptors, leaving after winning a championship, then joining the Clippers, and not winning anything after has me confused. In the win against the Suns in game one, he scored 38 points, five rebounds, five assists, one block, one steal, and three turnovers. In his last game as a Clipper, he scored 31 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and three turnovers. He showed us he can still perform like his former superstar self. However, due to his health, he did not play most games.

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This following season with the Clippers makes me question if Leonard actually wants to stay. After the Clippers series in the first round, he returned for one game and then sat out the rest. He finally told us after the brutal series between the Clippers and Suns, that the Clippers have forced him to play through injury. Leonard, being a very health-conscious man, ultimately decided to protect his body so he could have a solid chance next year at the Championship. However, I don’t think the Clippers want to keep him after being injured almost every year he has been there, and I believe they’re starting to realize that both parties are unhappy with their current situation.

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During the playoffs, Leonard's sister got arrested for a murder charge, went to trial, and was sent to jail, all while Leonard was in and then out of the playoffs. It is really sad to see, especially considering what is known about Leonard’s childhood, dealing with the murder of his father right in front of his eyes. However, despite all of this, which I’m sure the Clippers knew about, they were trying to force Leonard to play.

There’s no other way to describe this situation but messy. The Clippers are in a position now to force themselves to rely on Leonard being healthy, and to the average eye watching this from the outside looking in, I don’t see why Kawhi hasn’t left sooner. It seems the Clippers fall into this pattern where they throw everything they have at one player and then question why they do not go far in the playoffs.