Kawhi Leonard Provides Update On Contract Extension Talks With Clippers

Superstar Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players in the league when he's healthy, and the face of the Los Angeles Clippers. Though he is clearly a talented player, his future with the Clippers is unclear. Leonard could become a free agent in 2024 if he doesn't pick up his $48.8 million player option. As of right now, the superstar has not yet received an extension from the Clippers.

When speaking to the media, Leonard addressed extension talks with the Clippers, noting that this isn't something that he and the franchise are rushing.

 “We’re good. I came here in 2019 to be a Clipper. Me and the front office are good… It hasn’t been nothing that we’ve rushed on their side or my side,”

It makes sense that both the Clippers and Leonard are waiting to sign an extension. Leonard likely wants to have a good season to get the biggest possible amount from the team, while the Clippers want to see if Leonard can get through a season and stay healthy.

This past season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Kawhi Leonard averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, while shooting 51.2% from the field and 41.6% from 3PT range. He is an MVP-level talent, and the only thing that is hampering Leonard is his durability.

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Kawhi Leonard Has Been Heavily Criticized This Past Season

There is no doubt that Kawhi Leonard is frequently the target of criticism from analysts, largely due to his availability issues. In fact, Stephen A. Smith once claimed that Kawhi Leonard is the absolute worst superstar that an NBA team can have.

"Kawhi Leonard is the absolute worst superstar that a team can have… If Kawhi Leonard was healthy and could stay healthy, the Clippers could win it all. He’s missed 48 percent of his games since he has arrived in Los Angeles. He's missed 147 out of 308 games, that's 48 percent of his regular-season games. 48 percent. He can’t even talk for his own damn endorsement deals. He does absolutely nothing to market the sport." 

It is clear that Smith is not a fan of Leonard's, and some of the criticism is fair. Leonard has dealt with a lot of injuries, and it's obvious that his being injury-prone has affected the Clippers' chance of contention. With that being said, superstars shouldn't necessarily be expected to market basketball in their spare time. Nikola Jokic is someone who doesn't necessarily go out of his way to market the game and doesn't get the criticism that Leonard received from Smith here.

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Kawhi Leonard Needs To Have A Healthy Season For The Clippers To Contend

There is no doubt that the Los Angeles Clippers need Kawhi Leonard to have a healthy season to win a championship. He is the team's No. 1 option and the main piece that will help them win a championship.

The Clippers have surrounded Leonard with the players that he needs to win the championship. Paul George is one of the best No. 2 options in the league, while Russell Westbrook is an elite floor general. The team has enough talent, and the remaining piece is Leonard.

Hopefully, we do see Kawhi Leonard stay healthy. He is amazing to watch when on the court, and his talent is very clear. The NBA is better when he's on the court and the Clippers are competing, and we'll see what happens in the future.

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