Written by Nicholas LeTourneau at No Coast Bias
While the entire league has been mesmerized by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and the Golden State Warriors it is the San Antonio Spurs who are yet again flying under the radar — and they would not have it any other way. Despite signing arguably the best free agent in LaMarcus Aldridge this summer, the Spurs have been an afterthought in comparison to teams like Golden State or Oklahoma City. To the casual NBA fan, the Spurs look like a boring, no frills team whose roster is aging quickly but in reality the 32-6 Spurs are one of the most exciting teams. The Spurs are the best team in basketball thanks to Kawhi Leonard‘s emergence as a top five player, LaMarcus Aldridgeaccepting his new role, and an incredible bench unit.
There are few players in the league that are as complete and on the verge of superstardom like Kawhi Leonard is. When he was sent to San Antonio via a draft-day trade with the Indiana Pacers no one knew that he would develop into a premier player in the toughest conference and division in basketball. Each season has seen large increases in just about every statistical category, but what is most impressive is how he has transitioned from a defensive stopper to a two-way star in just four years and change.
Leonard has already accomplished so much in his career, earning Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors but has really turned heads this season with his killer instinct on offense. He is currently averaging 20.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, two steals, and almost one block-per-game. What really sets him apart is that he is shooting just under 50 percent from distance, a feat that is even more remarkable considering that his jump shot was the biggest fault in his game. Leonard’s ability to separate himself as the star on a squad that has always been about a team effort and a sacrifice of individual stats is inspiring, but the sacrifice is really what makes this team so special. This Spurs are loaded with stars that play secondary roles like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, David West, and LaMarcus Aldridge who is just entering his prime as an NBA player.
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