In 2012, shortly before Kawhi Leonard’s second NBA season, Gregg Popovich was asked where he saw the young forward five years down the road. His response, which seemed bold at the time, is now hilariously prophetic:
I think he’s going to be a star. And as time goes on, he’ll be the face of the Spurs I think. At both ends of the court, he is really a special player. And what makes me be so confident about him is that he wants it so badly. He wants to be a good player, I mean a great player.