Kawhi Leonard Is a Smart Man

The basketball community has fallen in love with Kawhi Leonard the past few years. It’s hard not to love him when you see the things that he does on the court. Leonard is averaging 21 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while often guarding the opposing team’s best player for 32 minutes every game, and should probably be the frontrunner for NBA MVP this season if not for some guy named Steph Curry. Away from the court though, Leonard just doesn’t talk. Or send Tweets. Or do any of the things that normal NBA superstars do. So, how much do we really know about him?

We just got a very small glimpse into who Leonard is thanks to a new Sports Illustrated story written by Lee Jenkins. In the story, Leonard doesn’t have a whole lot to say, but Jenkins uncovered all kinds of interesting facts about Leonard. Here are just a few of the things we learned, which you can read in its entirety here:

• Leonard told his doctor he planned on going to the NBA when he was just seven years old.. His doctor responded by saying, “Do you know how many kids come in this office and say that?”
• Leonard spent a lot of his childhood parked in front of his TV watching the Michael Jordan documentary, Come Fly With Me.
• Leonard’s favorite subject in school was Math and he used to “lose himself in geometry homework.”
• Leonard still drives a 1997 Chevy Tahoe that’s nicknamed “Gas Guzzler.” He does it because “it runs and it’s paid off.” (this San Diego Union piece from last year revealed that he also has a Porsche, but he rarely drives it)
• Leonard freaked out after he lost a book of coupons from his sponsor Wingstop last summer and asked for them to give him new ones so that he could get free wings—even though his new $94 million contract had just kicked in.

There’s just a small glimpse at the man of mystery, Kawhi Leonard. You really should check out Jenkins’ entire piece, because it’ll give you a new appreciation for Leonard as both a player, and more importantly, as a person.

One thing’s for sure – I don’t think we will ever be seeing him on the next 30 for 30, “Broke”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt3HnpJzKAw