The sports world continues to perform its proverbial autopsy on the carcass of the Los Angeles Clippers following their second-round collapse against the Denver Nuggets.
NBA fans haven’t let up on accosting Kawhi Leonard for leaving the Toronto Raptors for the Clippers. While it’s unlikely Kawhi will publicly admit he made a mistake leaving the Raptors, it’s clear he underestimated his old squad while simultaneously overrating what was to become his new team. According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN:
“There were obviously other reasons why he [Kawhi] chose the Clippers, including and especially his desire to go home, but one of the things Kawhi told the Raptors when he met with them in Toronto last summer, according to a source, was that he didn’t think they were good enough to repeat”
There’s no guarantee that Kawhi and the Raptors would’ve repeated, but many are beginning to question whether he can lead the Clippers and overcome the franchise curse. It appears, at least for this season, that he may have had an easier path to the Finals had he stayed in the 6.
There were obviously other reasons why he chose the Clippers, including and especially his desire to go home, but one of the things Kawhi told the Raptors when he met with them in Toronto last summer, according to a source, was that he didn't think they were good enough to repeat
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) September 16, 2020
He may not regret his decision – Kawhi doesn’t strike me as a person that lives with many regrets, and he did get to go play at home, after all – but, if nothing else, now he knows what he left behind in Toronto. They would have been good enough.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) September 16, 2020