What’s going on guys my name is Jarred Bronstein and in today’s video we’re talking about
15 surprising facts you probably didn’t know about Kawahi Leonard.
Now I’m sure by now you have heard his laugh, which in fact, is quite interesting, but I
won’t count it as one of the 15 facts we’re talking about today.
And if you haven’t seen it, well, here it is.
So starting off our list at number 15, Kawahi isn’t on social media.
At least according to him.
You can look for him, but I promise other than his Twitter you won’t find an official
account.
And I’m not even sure if it really is him.
It’s verified but While on How Hungry Are You?
A segment with fellow teammate Serg Ibaka, Kawahi was asked if at the very least he had
a burner account.
You know, an account with a fake name so no one really knows it Leonard?
When asked, Kawahi shut it down, and even though Serg questioned his answer, he firmly
stated he doesnt and has no interest in being on social media.
Coming in at number 14, Kawahi actually didn’t play basketball in his freshman year in high
school, he played football.
Although some may know of his success at Martin Luther King high in Riverside, California,
Kawahi was transferred there for his Junior year.
Originally Kawahi attended Moreno Valley’s Canyon Springs High and wasn’t on the basketball
team, simply because his mother couldn’t get him to the tryouts.
At the time the coach had a strict no tryouts, no play rule.
At number 13, we’re explaining the RIP Dad Tattoo on Kawahi’s arm.
Obviously the tattoo is in respect to his father who had passed away, but the story
behind what happened is quite sad.
For those of you that don’t know, Leonard’s dad was the owner of a car wash in Compton.
His father was shot and killed outside his own car wash, and to this day there are no
suspects or known motive behind the shooting.
Kawahi would go on to play a basketball game the next evening and manage to put up 17 points
in the game where his dad was supposed to be in the stands rooting his boy on.
Kawahi was quoted saying "Basketball is my life, and I wanted to go out there and take
my mind off it," he said.
"It was real sad.
My father was supposed to be at the game."
Number 12 is actually quite shocking.
Kawahi wasn’t offered a scholarship from any of the bigger schools such as UCLA, USC,
Duke or North Carolina to name a few because according to former USC assistant Bob Cantu,
“We weren’t sure he was a three because he didn’t shoot it well enough or handle
it well enough, and we didn’t think he was a four because he was so undersized.
To be honest, I felt like he was a mid-major post at the time.
Kawahi did receive an offer from San Diego State which is where he would eventually end
up playing two years of college ball.
Kawahi knew if he waited it out he probably would’ve gotten scholarships to bigger schools
saying Everyone said, Why didn't you go to a bigger school, why didn't you go to the
Pac-10.
If I waited it out, I probably would have got them.
But I wanted to go with who loved me first.", but Kawahi is a man of loyalty.
Here’s another great example of how loyal he really is.
Number 11, were talking about the size of this mans hands.
Theres a reason hes been given the nickname the Klaw and for good reason.
The average male’s hand size is 7.44 inches in length and 3.3 inches wide according to
theaveragebody.com . Leonard’s hand’s, from the bottom of his wrist to the top of
his middle finger is 9.75 inches long and an astonishing 11.25 inches wide from thumb
to pinky.
So yeah, I understand why he’s been given the nickname the Klaw.
At number 10 we’re talking about history in the making.
Leonard became only the third youngest NBA player in history to win the finals MVP award
when he won the Larry O’Brian trophy with the San Antonio Spurs back in 2014 while playing
on possibly one of the greatest NBA teams ever.
With company like Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, it was definitely quite an
accomplishment for Leonard who, at 22 years and 351 days old, not only won the MVP finals
award, but also became the sixth player in NBA history to win the finals MVP but not
be named an All-Star.
Leonard would prove he really is an allstar averaging 17.8 points and shooting 61 percent.
Kawahi also joins rare company as one of three players to win both NBA defensive player of
the year and NBA finals MVP.
Only Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon were able to accomplish that feat, so I think it’s
safe to say Kawahi is a future hall of famer.
Coming in at number 9 we got Leonard’s lawsuit.
As previously mentioned, Kawahi’s nickname is the Klaw because of his massive hands.
Well during the NBA finals, which the Raptors won in 5 games, Kawahi Leonard filed a law
suit against Nike who he used to have an endorsement deal with.
That endorsement deal expired back in September 20th of 2018, and Leonard decided to sign
a new deal with New Balance, who he is currently still with.
The law suit claims Leonard is the sole owner of the Klaw logo, and he claims to have given
Nike permission to use the logo on certain merchandise while Leonard would continue to
use it on non Nike goods.
He’s claiming Nike is committing fraud by using his logo and have objected him from
using the logo on other clothing lines, footwear and other products.
Nike was most recently quoted saying “we do not comment on pending litigation” when
asked about the lawsuit.
At the time of this recording, it’s still in court.
At number 8 we got Kawahi’s free wing obsession.
Alright, I wont say its an obsession, but after signing a 94 million dollar contract
with the San Antonio Spurs back in 2016, Kawahi, who was also a happy sponsor of Wingstop,
apparently panicked when he realized he lost his free wing coupons.
According to Sports Illustrated “He is happy to sponsor Wingstop, which sends him coupons
for free wings, so he can feed his Mango Habanero addiction.
This winter, after his $94 million contract kicked in, he panicked when he lost his coupons.
Wingstop generously replenished his supply.”
At number 7, we’re talking about Kawahi’s car.
Now Im sure at the age of 27 and a salary of 17 million dollars a year, he upgraded
from his college whip.
But his first year in the NBA, when he had plenty of cash, he still rolled around in
his 1997 Chevy Tahoe.
When asked about the car, Leonard explained “it runs and its paid off”.
It’ll be interesting to see where he signs and how much he makes heading into the 2019-2020
season, but im sure hell be able to buy as many 1997 Chevy Tahoes as he wants.
Number 6, Kawahi makes history again.
In game 7 of the 2019 NBA Conference Semi Finals between the Philadelphia 76ers and
the Toronto Raptors, tied a 90 a piece, Kawahi threw up a shot with hopes it would help his
team move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the ball bounced off the rim 4 times
before finally sinking and advancing the Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Whats even more incredible is that Kawahi’s shot was the first game winning buzzer beater
in a game 7 of the NBA playoffs.
Talk about a legend.
Number 5, Kawahi’s daughter.
Many don’t know this, but Kawahi is actually a father.
Back in July of 2016, Kawahi’s current girlfriend, Kishele Shipley, gave birth to their daughter
Kaliyah.
Although the two are currently still only boyfriend and girlfriend, they’ve been together
since 2014 and now that they are raising a child together, I got a feeling they’re
going to tie the knot sooner than later.
Number 4, Kawahi wasn’t drafted by the San Antonio Spurs.
Ever since he broke into the league, Leonard has been a poster boy for the NBA.
Quiet, but professional, a great player who’s lets his play do the talking, Leonard has
and will continue to dominate in the NBA for years to go.
But before he made all that noise and won multiple accolades with the San Antonio Spurs,
Kawahi got drafted to the Indiana Pacers in the 2011 NBA draft, 15th overall.
He wouldn’t play a single game for the Pacers though, being traded not long after being
drafted to the Spurs in return for point guard George Hill.
Number 3 Mr. Basketball California.
While still in high school, Kawahi was awarded the Mr. Basketball California award, which
goes to the best high school boys basketball player in the state of California.
Kawahi would help lead the team to a 30 and 3 record, averaging 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds,
3.9 assists and 3 blocks per game.
Other notable NBA stars who have won this award include Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, Tyson
Chandler and Amir Johnson.
Number 2 to be the best, you gotta do what everyone else wont do.
And thats what Kawahi does, former coaches, friends and players all comment on the guys
work ethic.
Apparently he just wants to keep getting better, and wont stop til hes the best.
Back in 2010 when Leonard was transitioning from freshman to sophomore at San Diego State,
he heard Trevor Ariza, who had recently wont a championship with the LA Lakers was working
out with his trainer at their facilities.
Leonard tracked Azira and asked if they could work out together, he agreed and had this
to say about Leonard.
Man, my first impression of him was This kid is here to work, period.
He went on to say "I prided myself on being there first person in all the time.
And, when I got there, he was already there.
He'd done everything he needed to do, and he was ready to work out again.
When I saw the work ethic he had, I knew he was going to be special.
When it came to one on one drills, Azira said He was winning one-on-one drills that we were
playing.
He didn't win them all, but he wanted to.
He went as hard as he could every single time.
... He has that edge to him that you need to be the caliber of player that he is."
At number 1 we got Board Man Gets Paid.
Now as we all know, Kawahi Leonard is a man of few words.
But when he talks, you know he means what he says.
In a recent article by The Athletic, a popular subscription based website, which went viral,
the entire world learned about Kawahi’s antics back in his college days.
According to former teammates and eventually confirmed by Leonard himself, when putting
up shots he would just say things like Buckets or Lay up.
When defending he would just say nope, nope, nope.
But the best one of all, board man gets paid.
When asked about it at a post game press conference, Leonard had this to say “I used to say that
back when I was in high school and college, just wanting to get to this league.
It’s about working hard, outworking an opponent.
Rebounds help you win games, big rebounds, offensive rebounds, limiting the team to one
shot.
That used to be our motto, some of us in college(who were trying to get to this point.”