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Ramona Shelburne
Multiple Authors
LA Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw is hesitant to draw comparisons to Kobe Bryant. yet, as someone who has both played alongside and coached Bryant, his perspective holds weight.
Shaw acknowledges that he perceives echoes of Bryant’s spirit in the game of one standout NBA superstar, who since December 20 has steadily led the league in both scoring and steals while assisting the Clippers in their remarkable turnaround.
That player is Kawhi Leonard, a cornerstone of the franchise. “If I were to compare anything I observed in Kobe,” Shaw expressed to ESPN, “it’s their work ethic when they commit to a goal.”
Shaw recalls a memorable instance from early in Bryant’s career, when he was one of the older veterans on the Lakers’ bench. It was January 7, 2003, and the Lakers were set to battle Gary Payton and the Sonics in Seattle.
“During shootaround,” Shaw reminisced, “a Seattle reporter mentioned that his daughter admired Bryant but felt he was missing a 3-point shot.” Bryant responded directly to the reporter, urging him to have his daughter tune into the game that evening. “Then,” Shaw recounted, “Kobe proceeded to shoot 3 after 3 from all over the floor.” That night, Bryant made an NBA record twelve 3-pointers, driven by the desire to prove doubters wrong.
This brings us back to Leonard. While the challenge he faces may differ from Bryant’s two decades ago, the talent remains parallel — and the outcomes are similar. The Lakers triumphed by 21 points that night, and now, after a rough start of 6-21, the Clippers are among the hottest teams in the league.
Leonard — along with his outstanding improvement in perimeter shooting — is the driving force behind this success.
FOR NEARLY TWO years, the Clippers’ coaching staff urged Leonard to explore his range. While they recognized his mastery in midrange and inside scoring, they knew their offense would thrive if he ventured beyond the arc. also, they wanted to shield him from the wear and tear of constant physical play in the paint.
Assistant coach Jeremy Castleberry, who has guided Leonard since his tenure in San Antonio, is noted for his unique ability to connect with him — even Coach Tyronn Lue affectionately refers to him as the “Kawhi whisperer.”
In December, as conversations intensified about Leonard’s game development in his mid-30s and the struggles of the Clippers’ offense, he took charge.
“I told Lue that I was going to attempt 12 3-pointers, and he responded, ‘How?’ I replied, ‘You’ll see,'” Leonard recalled.
Much like Bryant in that pivotal Seattle game, Leonard followed through on his commitment.
This season, he’s averaging a career-high of seven 3-point attempts per game, but has even upped that to nearly nine since December 20, when he took 12 3-pointers in the Clippers’ 103-88 victory over the Lakers.
Leonard describes his decision to finally heed Lue and Castleberry’s advice as a necessary shift for a team in dire need of change.
“We were in a hole,” Leonard acknowledged. “So I evaluated what we needed and believed shooting more 3s was part of that. whether or not I struggle and the shots don’t fall, it could motivate others to shoot freely.” Leonard’s newfound dedication to the perimeter game has transformed the Clippers’ offense, which ranked 23rd before December 20.
Since then, he has connected on over 43% of his 3-point shots, drawing defenders out and creating lanes for drives and cuts by teammates. The Clippers have surged to the second spot offensively, scoring nearly eight additional points per 100 possessions, and they’ve gone 16-3 over their last 19 games.
It’s also less taxing on his body. Leonard’s career has oscillated between remarkable performances and significant injuries. “Ty has consistently pushed him to find easier shot opportunities that don’t require as much effort each time,” Shaw explained.
“His work ethic and approach were never in question. Now, Kawhi has committed to increasing his 3-point attempts and has diligently practiced with Jeremy. His focus is exceptional.” When Leonard is healthy and performing at this level, the expectations heighten for both him and the Clippers. This makes the investment made in him back in 2019 feel particularly heavy — as each year brings moments of brilliance hindered by injuries.
Since his arrival in 2019, when Leonard has played, the Clippers have achieved a winning percentage exceeding 66%. Conversely, in games he has missed, that figure drops to 49%. “This is my fifth season here,” Shaw noted. “Once I realized his true level of talent, I believed we had a shot at greatness, if not for injuries impacting both him and the team.” The enigma around Leonard remains, and it is something that may never be resolved. Healthy, he’s undoubtedly one of the most significant players of his generation; when he’s sidelined, the Clippers find themselves tethered to an unpredictable variable beyond their control.
JAMES HARDEN SITS beside Leonard in the Clippers’ locker room. Recently, he has started to feel that he might be the teammate Leonard has needed most. This isn’t to imply that they share a close bond; neither of them has visited the other’s home in L.A.
“I’m still trying to figure him out,” Harden admitted to ESPN.
Yet, given their shared experiences, Harden believes he understands Leonard better than most. “Being next to him in the locker room, I feel I draw out his best,” Harden added. “Honestly, I might be the one who’s brought out the most in him since his entry into the league.”
Lue credits both Harden and Leonard for helping pull the Clippers from their early-season slump. According to ESPN Research, out of 146 two-player combinations with a minimum of 700 minutes together, Harden and Leonard’s offensive rating stands eighth, ranking fourth among all duos outside of the Nuggets.
Harden has observed that Leonard is focused on maximizing every ounce of energy he gives to basketball, ensuring that what remains of his body is preserved for the critical playoff moments.
He avoids sugary drinks and maintains a healthy diet. especially, during last year’s playoffs, he famously rejected several bottles of Gatorade left for him at a postgame press conference.
“Kids shouldn’t be consuming that,” he remarked.
In October, he welcomed a group of 30 local high school students to the Intuit Dome for a mindfulness event that included gentle yoga and a sound bath. “If you practice this daily,” Leonard instructed, demonstrating a reverse warrior pose, “those aches and discomfort will fade away.”
It’s a straightforward idea, but one he genuinely believes — or at least hopes — will resonate with him one day.
“Most people wouldn’t possess the mental fortitude to continually rebound from injuries like he has; they would have given up,” Harden reflected. “Yet, he perseveres.”
As Harden shares his admiration for his teammate, he glances at Leonard’s locker. On the top shelf sit six exquisite bottles of water. Upon closer examination, the elegant bottles are from Hallstein, a premium alkaline water sourced from the Austrian Alps, retailing at $71 for a six-pack.
“That’s the best water on Earth,” Leonard shared with ESPN. “It’s naturally alkaline; they don’t alter it chemically. Plus, it’s in glass, avoiding plastics and harmful substances.”
Leonard’s preference for alkaline water traces back to his time in San Antonio, with a particular fondness for hot alkaline water infused with lime juice.
“Every day with him is a learning experience,” Harden noted. “I’m not sure if he tries to be enigmatic deliberately; it seems like it’s just part of who he is. Some individuals simply prefer a life off the grid, not wanting to share much about themselves.”
If there’s one undeniable aspect throughout his career marked by interruptions, it’s the unwavering acknowledgment of Leonard’s work ethic — and his commitment to doing what’s necessary to return to the court, whether it’s through yoga, meditation, or the pursuit of high-quality alkaline water. “He genuinely loves basketball,” Harden stated. “And he puts in the effort to keep playing.”
He certainly has, as since that December 20 game, Leonard leads all players with a net rating among those who have logged 500 or more minutes.
The enduring question, as always with Leonard and the Clippers, remains: can this resurgence continue?
