Kawhi Leonard has played in only nine games this season for the Spurs due to a right quad injury. According to reports, Leonard was expected to return last week against the Pelicans. However, it did not happen.
According to ESPN, the Spurs held a players-only meeting, led by Tony Parker, on Saturday night asking Leonard to return.
At times, the meeting was “tense and emotional.” Several teammates spoke up, expressing frustration and confusion over a growing divide with Leonard that has created significant tension between the franchise star and the Spurs, according to the report.
Leonard, 26, explained to his teammates why he has not returned, according to the report.
Yesterday, Manu Ginobili told reporters the following about Leonard: “We’ve got to think that he’s not coming back, that we are who we are and that we’ve got to fight without him.”
Currently, the Spurs are 42-30 and are the 6th-seed in the Western Conference, but are only three games up on the 9th-seeded Denver Nuggets.
In reality, the Spurs have no shot in the playoffs without Leonard, but you wonder if this is the beginning of the end of Leonard in San Antonio.