The world of sports and sports betting is full of improbable scenarios, but few can match the scale of this one. According to a 2015 report, the player who was originally selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 15th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft is now being credited with predicting his own future before it had even come to pass.
During a routine medical appointment with his pediatrician, Young Leonard made an offhanded comment that would become a part of his future. The doctor asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “I want to be a basketball player,” replied Leonard, who was then only 11 years old. At the time, his answer was an entirely logical one. In his hometown of Toronto, Leonard was one of the most dominant players in the city’s public school system. “He was the definition of a high-level basketball player,” recalled his high school coach, Robby Brown. “Everyone was looking up to him.”
If you’re readying yourself for the NBA draft, you may have heard of Kawhi Leonard. Since he was a child, the San Diego native has been known for his basketball talent, and if you’ve heard of him you’ve probably heard his name associated with the NBA’s top draft picks. He’s been a finalist the last two years, but he’s often overshadowed by other college players.. Read more about kawhi leonard wife and let us know what you think.
Although Kawhi Leonard has become one of the best talents in basketball, he hasn’t always been a star. The forward always had the physical attributes to succeed, but scouts weren’t sure how he would fit into an NBA team. Kawhi, however, never doubted his own ability.Leonard’s confidence didn’t start at San Diego State, where he made headlines with his athletic talent. That was not the case in high school, where he dominated the local league. The idea was born during a doctor’s visit as a child, where the young forward told all present that he would become an NBA player.
Kawhi Leonard told his pediatrician he was going to make it in the NBA, and then he did
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As the classic TV show explains, kids say the dumbest things. Although he didn’t talk much these days, young Kawhi was no exception.
He was the baby of the family, admired by his four older sisters, who lined up to buy his Air Jordans and predicted his athletic exploits in home movies, Lee Jenkins says in an article for Sports Illustrated. When Kawhi was seven years old, he interrupted his annual exam to tell his pediatrician that he wanted to play in the NBA. Do you know how many kids come into this office and say that?
Leonard wasn’t kidding. Growing up, his basketball skills began to reveal themselves. In high school, he outdid all his competitors by winning the title of Mr. Right. California basketball won. Despite interest from UCLA and UCLA, he eventually transferred to San Diego State. With his usual modesty, Kawhi has remained loyal to the Aztecs because they were the first school to recruit him.
In college, the striker continued to shine. As a freshman, Leonard averaged 12.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game and was named to the all-conference first team. He improved again in his sophomore year and was selected second-team All-American before going to the NBA Draft in 2011.
On decision night, the Indiana Pacers decided to take Kawhi, but they immediately traded him to the San Antonio Spurs. At this point, the striker has fulfilled his youth promise. Leonard was an NBA player.
$149 million NBA career
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For most basketball fans, a contact in the NBA would be a dream come true. Leonard’s prediction came true when he signed his first pro contract, but that’s not all.
Although Leonard began his career with the Spurs as a role player who could play hard defense or hit a three-pointer, he worked his way up to become an NBA star. While his defensive performance has remained constant, the attacker has added more and more attack to his game. When he took over the reins of his team in Toronto, he proved that he could be a versatile player capable of leading a team to a title.
That reality, combined with the positionless nature of the modern NBA, has allowed Kawhi to turn a profit. He joined the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2019 on a three-year, $103 million contract. However, it should be noted that the third year is a player option and the forward should drop that option and enter the open market.
But no matter what happens in the summer of 2021, Leonard has already made a nice fortune playing basketball. The striker will receive a salary of just over $149 million until the end of the 2020-21 season. It’s safe to assume that seven-year-old Kawhi didn’t have such big dreams.
Even with millions in Kawhi’s bank, Leonard hasn’t changed much
Kawhi Leonard during a game for the Los Angeles Clippers. | Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Considering that he fulfilled his childhood dream and made over $149 million, Leonard could be forgiven for losing track of his success. For the most part, though, the attacker seems to be the same person he was when he talked to his pediatrician about his NBA aspirations.
Besides the fact that his speech hasn’t changed – Kawhi remains as annoying as ever – Jenkins’ article reveals a few other details about Leonard’s personal life. At least in 2016, the forward was still spending summers in a two-bedroom apartment in San Diego, where he hung a mini hoop over a door and still walked around town with a basketball in his backpack.
It has also remained fairly modest in financial terms. At the time, Leonard was still driving a refurbished 1997 Chevy Tahoe, nicknamed the Gas Truck, and he panicked when he lost his coupons for free Wingstop wings.
When he was plotting his NBA career all those years ago, it was safe to assume Kawhi Leonard wasn’t thinking about the implications of a gross salary of over $100 million. But when it comes to fighting, that money doesn’t seem to make much difference on a personal level.
Financial data courtesy of Spotrac. Statistics provided by Sports-Reference.
COMPARED TO: Kawhi Leonard’s former coach has added a legendary playoff story to his mysterious legacyKawhi Leonard is and has been a great player for a decade. He’s a two-time NBA Finals MVP, an All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. But he’s also a tremendous interview. When he was a child, Leonard had a growth spurt and eventually ended up in a dispute with his doctor. Leonard was so young that he didn’t understand the significance of his situation, and he didn’t know that he was having a growth spurt. Thankfully, his doctor was able to explain it all to him.. Read more about kawhi leonard rings and let us know what you think.
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