LOS ANGELES — Whatever lingering mystery was left on the future Kawhi Leonard dissipated today when the five-time All-Star signed a four-year contract to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Kawhi is a transcendent player and a relentless worker who improves himself everyday,” said Clippers president of basketball operations president Lawrence Frank.
The max deal is worth $176.3 million with a player option in the fourth and final year which culminate on the 2024-25 NBA season.
Taken by the Indiana Pacers as 15th overall in the 2011 NBA draft, Leonard played seven seasons with the San Antonio Spurs before moving on with the Toronto Raptors in the 2018-19 season. That lone year he spent in Canada yielded a championship, his second overall.
Through 576 regular season games in 10 years, the 30-year old Leonard has averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per.
With the 6-foot-7, 225–pound small forward locked up for the next three years at least, the Clippers now have a solid 1-2 punch alongside Paul George to contend for a first-ever championship for the Clippers. (HM)
