LOS ANGELES—Nick Nurse would sit one-on-one with Kawhi Leonard at times last season, as coaches and star players do to foster better relationships, a deeper understanding of each other and ways to maximize the talents of each.
And Nurse would come away from those private chats — he called them “really interesting, and I would say cool” sessions — with a greater appreciation for what drove the then-Raptors superstar.
It was pretty simple.
“I thought it was really interesting how he always talked (like) all he really cared about was staying healthy and playing for a long time and winning,” Nurse recalled of those chats last season.