For as long as Gregg Popovich has been the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs we’ve never really heard players on his teams speak out about being unhappy with the organization, but that all changed after reports surfaced that Kawhi Leonard wanted out of San Antonio.
A lot of people thought those were just rumours and reporters were just trying to stir the pot, but it turns out it was a specific comment from a certain veteran teammate that was the final straw for the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
According to both ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe, Tony Parker’s comments about Leonard’s injury not being as severe as his was and him not turning to another doctor for a second opinion because he trusted the Spurs doctors was all Leonard had to hear to decide he wants out.
Here are his exact comments, via Tom Orsborn.
“Tony Parker on his return from the career-threatening quad injury he suffered last May: I’ve been through it. It was a rehab for me for eight months. Same kind of injury (as Kawhi), but mine was a hundred times worse. But the same kind of injury. You just stay positive.”
Tony also said he never considered getting a second-opinion after he tore his quad: “I could have gone anywhere, but I trust my Spurs doctors. They have been with me my whole career. They know my body better than anybody…I feel like we have the best medical team in the world.”
It’s one thing if Parker said all that to Leonard’s face behind the scenes, but it’s another to turn to the media and throw your teammate under the bus like that, especially when you’re one of the veterans on the roster.
It’s really starting to look like Kawhi Leonard’s time with the San Antonio Spurs is nearing an end.
(H/T Twitter/r0bato)
