How Kawhi Leonard’s choice to avoid LeBron James redirected the NBA
Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 free agency decision shocked the NBA and altered the course of league history.
In this article, Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo examines how Leonard’s choice to avoid LeBron James and join the Clippers instead reshaped both franchises and left behind a legacy of what-ifs.
The summer of uncertainty
In the summer of 2019, the entire basketball world focused on Kawhi Leonard’s free agency decision.
Fresh off leading the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever NBA championship, Leonard became the most coveted player available.
His options were clear. He could stay in Toronto, return to California and join the Los Angeles Lakers, or sign with the LA Clippers. Each choice carried major implications for his career and for the NBA as a whole.
What surprised many was Leonard’s decision to reject the Lakers and instead take his talents to the Clippers.
Reports now reveal that his reluctance to play alongside LeBron James was central to that decision.
Why Leonard chose the Clippers over the Lakers
Although the Lakers offered global recognition and the chance to compete with established superstars, Leonard wanted something different.
He did not want to be the second option next to James, nor did he want to follow the newly acquired Anthony Davis in the pecking order.
Instead, Leonard sought the opportunity to build his own legacy without sharing the spotlight.
The Clippers offered him just that. The franchise gave him the chance to be the face of a team in his home city while providing the resources to contend immediately.
By pairing Leonard with Paul George, the Clippers created a roster designed to compete with anyone.
For Leonard, it was a balance of professional ambition and personal fulfilment.
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The Lakers’ response years later
At the time, the Lakers were disappointed to miss out on Leonard.
They envisioned a super team with James, Davis, and Leonard forming one of the most dominant trios in league history.
Yet with hindsight, members of the Lakers organisation now say they feel fortunate that the signing never happened.
An insider admitted that Leonard would have been a prized addition in 2019, but called him a “headache” in reflection.
The source added that they often feel bad for the Clippers, who have endured constant setbacks since acquiring him.
A legacy complicated by injuries
Leonard’s move to the Clippers was supposed to mark the beginning of a new era, but his time there has been defined by inconsistency.
Since joining the team, he has missed more than two hundred games due to injuries.
Nearly half of his tenure has been spent on the sidelines, which has hampered the Clippers’ ability to deliver on championship expectations.
The narrative only grew more complex when reports surfaced about an NBA investigation into sponsorship deals tied to Leonard.
The league is examining a partnership between Leonard and Aspiration, a financial services company, to determine whether the Clippers violated any rules.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has pointed the finger at the company, claiming they acted independently. Still, if wrongdoing is found, the franchise could face severe consequences.
A career of what-ifs
Leonard was at the peak of his powers when he left Toronto.
His 2019 playoff run, capped by Finals MVP honours against the Golden State Warriors, cemented his status as one of the best players in the world. At that moment, he seemed destined to dominate the next decade.
Instead, injuries and off-court complications have left fans and analysts wondering what might have been.
While his Hall of Fame credentials remain intact, the conversation surrounding Leonard is now filled with questions about missed opportunities and unfulfilled expectations.
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The Clippers’ future hinges on Leonard
For the Clippers, everything continues to rest on Leonard’s ability to stay healthy and lead.
He is still the centrepiece of their roster and the player who must set the tone for any pursuit of a championship.
Yet the challenges are immense, with his availability uncertain and the ongoing investigation clouding the team’s future.
The Lakers, meanwhile, have found reassurance in hindsight.
They built a championship roster without Leonard, winning the 2020 title behind James and Davis.
From their perspective, avoiding the drama that has surrounded Leonard has been a blessing.
The story of Leonard’s decision in 2019 is far from over. It remains one of the most pivotal choices in modern NBA history, reshaping not just the balance of power in Los Angeles but also the trajectory of the league.
How it ultimately defines his career, and the fortunes of the Clippers, is still being written.
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