Source: Matteo Marchi / Getty
The oddness of Kawhi Leonard’s final year in San Antonio is over and his new start in Toronto has begun.
Very few, if any, words actually came out of Leonard’s mouth, as his uncle has taken over all of his business and basketball affairs. But, the 27-year-old has finally released a statement thanking Spurs fans. In a letter submitted to the San Antonio Express-News, Leonard wrote, “I have been going back and forth the last few weeks trying to figure out the right things to say, and it comes down to two simple words: THANK YOU!”
In the letter, he thanks the fans, shouts out his teammates, and thanks Coach Popovich for his “growth under your guidance.”
Leonard also alludes to not everything being perfect, writing, “Through all the ups and downs—I’m glad there were many more ups!—I’ll never forget what we have shared and accomplished together.”
The letter doesn’t answer any questions we had about his tumultuous relationship with the organization; in fact, it just raises more.
During his last season as a Spur, he only appeared in nine games, last playing on January 13 before sitting out the rest of the season due to an apparent quad injury. The Spurs medical staff cleared him to take the floor, but he decided to get a second opinion. The result was that he felt it was best to ride the bench for the rest of the season.
Leonard is looking upward and onward with his new team, writing, “While I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my career, I’ll always remember the city and the people of San Antonio!”
