He’s one of the hottest players in the NBA right now, and his name is Kawhi Leonard. He’s widely popular for a variety of reasons, notably because of how down-to-earth he is. Though he signed a 5-year, $90 million extension recently with the San Antonio Spurs, he still drives his old 97′ rehabbed Chevy Tahoe, nicknamed “Gas Guzzler,” which he drove back in highschool in Southern California. “It runs,” Leonard explains, “and it’s paid off.” He’s also sponsored by Wingstop, which sends him coupons for free wings. “This winter, after his $94 million contract kicked in, he panicked when he lost his coupons. Wingstop generously replenished his supply.”
Though quiet, calm, and unassuming, Leonard is a #13 FCIR. I don’t like to bring attention to myself, he says. I don’t like to make a scene. Back in highschool, he even blew off the Nike camp when his peers would have done anything to get such an invitation. I don’t need the exposure, he told his coach. Amazingly, he also declined to go to UCLA and USC because San Diego State recruited him first. Even Greg Popovich (#16 BCIL), the master of all things stern and solemn, said of Leonard when he joined the team, He was as serious as a heart attack.” Pop went on to say about his player recently, When Kawhi makes a mistake, he’s almost apologetic. He doesn’t want to disappoint anybody. There are times he does something well, and I have to tell him, ‘That was super. That was fantastic. That was a helluva job. You can smile now. You can feel great about yourself.’