While the fans might get frustrated by the lack of answers, the NBA is loving the attention.
This summer’s NBA free agency is going to be off the charts with some superstars set to switch locations. Right now, none of these guys are saying anything about their futures, so media has to grasp at straws to get an idea of how this entire ordeal is going to play out.
With the Toronto Raptors in their first NBA Finals, Kawhi Leonard is getting “prisoner of the moment” attention from everyone and that’s understandable. Anyone affiliated with Leonard is a must listen, especially considering how infrequently Leonard actually talks about anything.
Kawhi’s uncle, Dennis Robertson is the latest family member to speak on Leonard’s behalf. Robertson is considered Leonard’s business strategist (whatever that means) and on Sunday he spoke to media on different topics concerning his nephew’s past, present, and future.
Uncle Dennis Speaks: Uncle of Raptors star Kawhi Leonard to Yahoo Sports on why they requested trade from Spurs, initial reluctance to go to Toronto, being vindicated, affection for city and free-agency process. https://t.co/gJrsSW4HRF
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 26, 2019
“Making it to the Finals is a big deal,” Robertson told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. “This is a team that has never been to the Finals and we’re happy about that. It feels good with what we went through last year. … What he accomplished was amazing. That’s what stars do. How he’s handled everything on and off the court is well deserved.”
Leonard’s departure from San Antonio was unexpected, quick and somewhat confusing to most basketball fans. A disagreement between Leonard and the Spurs in diagnosing the thigh injury he suffered in the previous season was at the heart of his beef.
To this day, he’s never really explained why he wanted to leave.
“I think it just became a lack of trust. They didn’t believe Kawhi couldn’t play and that caused a lack of trust in us and then us not believing in them. Any time a player says he’s not capable of playing, you should believe him. Why would Kawhi just stop playing all of a sudden? He’s a competitor. Sometimes you get these team doctors telling you what you can and cannot do, and Kawhi was just in too much pain to get out there. This was a serious issue. They didn’t believe him, and after that, the relationship couldn’t recover and we decided we had to move on.”
As soon as Leonard joined the Raptors, the chances of the team to finally get over the hump and win the Eastern Conference skyrocketed.
Leonard didn’t disappoint, averaging 31.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in the playoffs and gave Greek Freak and the Bucks major fever in a Game 6, series-clinching win, posting a line of 27 points with 17 rebounds and seven assists.
Toronto Raptors fans hit the “fun guy” Kawhi Leonard MVP chants #WeTheNorth
— the Sports ON Tap (@thesportsontap) May 26, 2019
Still, none of that historical success guarantees that Leonard will resign with the Raptors after this season is complete. Most hoops head believe that he is already committed to going back to Cali as a member of the Lakers or Clippers.
Uncle Dennis didn’t give any real insight into that situation. No different than the uninformative answers KD’s business partner offered concerning the two-time NBA Finals MVPs future with Golden State,
“We’re not thinking about free agency; it’s the Warriors [right now],” Robertson added. “Once we get through the season, we’ll turn our attention to free agency. But we’re just having fun right now. This has been a great year.”
In other words, none of ya damn business. By the time the Finals conclude, we will have heard from everyone, including Leonard’s mailman, his chef and possibly former girlfriends concerning his future. While the fans might get frustrated by the lack of answers, the NBA is loving the attention. It’s great for the game and that’s the point.
