Kawhi Leonard is a rising star in the NBA and although you wouldn't know it because he is on the San Antonio Spurs and doesn't like to talk a lot he is becoming one of the best players in the league. Leonard won NBA Finals MVP two years ago and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year last season so it seems clear that he is on his way to superstardom. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich though still sees places he can improve and different ways to utilize him including putting him in the post, according to Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express News.
Leonard has never played in more than 66 games in a season so far in his career and he was only able to play 64 games last season but he still was able to have a career year and get a huge contract. Leonard signed a five year $94 million contract this offseason and it is clear that the baton has been passed from Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli to LaMarcus Aldridge and Leonard.
The Spurs haven't been a great post-up team in recent years as they have instead relied on penetration to get their points in the paint. Duncan can still do some work in the post but now with the addition of Aldridge they will likely be much more successful posting up. Popovich also wants to be able to use Leonard in the post though as a way of expanding his game even further. He is already a lock down defender and an excellent shooter but putting him in the post should make him more of a playmaker.
"We're going to put Leonard in the post more and more, so he's got to learn what his go-to moves are, what he feels comfortable with and the type of defenders that are going to come after him. Just like they came after Timmy early in his career, they'll go after Kawhi. They're not going to let him go one-on-one down there. He's got to figure out how to adjust, how to take advantage of that, and basically learn how to be a quarterback. That's what he's doing," said Popovich.
Popovich anticipates that Leonard will see a lot of double teams in the post which will force him to have to make quick decisions and find the open man. Leonard has not played with the ball in his hands very much so far in his four year career but Popovich wants that to happen more as he continues to become "the guy" for the Spurs.
Leonard is coming off a very solid season where had career highs in points (16.5,) rebounds (7.2,) assists (2.5) and steals (2.3.) Even with those career highs though, his shooting numbers were down to career lows at 48 percent from the field and 35 percent from three. Those numbers are still very good though and you can pretty much bank on more improvement from the 24 year old forward this season and it wouldn't surprise anyone if he made his first All-Star appearance in 2015-16.
