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Toronto Raptor star Kawhi Leonard reacted on Sunday to the recent criticism by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich of his leadership, saying the comments were "funny to me" and saying that He was a leader.
"I've heard about it – it's funny for me because, you know, I do not know if it's talking about last year or not, but I guess when you stop playing, they forget how you run, "Leonard told reporters in Toronto. "Apart from that, it does not matter – I'm here with the Raptors, focusing on the season and not on the other side."
Prior to Saturday's game at Milwaukee Bucks, Popovich was asked about the importance of Guardian Guard Patty Mills' leadership following the retirement of Manu Ginobili and Leonard's trade with Toronto, and a brutal balance sheet of Leonard.
"Kawhi was an excellent player, but he was not a leader or anything," Popovich told reporters the most valuable player of the 2014 NBA Finals and the defensive double player of the year. year. "Manu and Patty were the leaders, Kawhi's talent will always be missed, but that leadership was not his job at the time." It may come as he progresses, but Manu and Patty have played this role last year, and LaMarcus [Aldridge] traveled a long way in this regard too. "
Leonard said Sunday that he was a leader, but he showed it in different ways.
"I preach by example by starting to practice every day, just go hard and get into those games with mental focus," he said. "You can not see things once you play on the ground, guys ask me questions about their match, or if I see something on the floor, I say to the guys:" Go ahead, go on. y & # 39; just motivate people, do you know what i mean?
"I'm just trying to cheer people up, that's about it all. Do not try to drop someone too low, but just lift it up."
Sent to Toronto this past season with Danny Green in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected first-round pick in 2019, Leonard has only played nine games with the Spurs last season, due to A right quadriceps injury.
Popovich defended Leonard during the summer against any innuendo that he was not a good teammate.
"It's quite ridiculous," said Popovich at the time. "Kawhi has been an excellent teammate all along the way, he has done his job and he has not been a problem for anyone, the talking heads must have a story. talk – maybe I am – I would have stories too, all the stories that denigrate him in this regard, it was unfortunate and inaccurate. "
Leonard is expected to return to San Antonio on January 3, when the Raptors face the Spurs at AT & T.
Michael C. Wright's ESPN information was used in this report.
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