Leonard
but returned to play in nine games. He complained of discomfort and pain in the leg in his final game.
He sought an outside opinion after the Spurs cleared him to play, working with his own medical team in New York in an attempt to return to the court.
The 6-foot-7 forward reportedly grew upset that the club had questioned his rehabilitation process.
San Antonio listed him as out on its injury reports for much of the year, citing “injury management.” While the team was in the playoffs, losing in the first round to eventual repeat champion Golden State, Leonard was rehabbing in New York — which meant that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, when asked about the situation, deferred all comment to “Kawhi and his group.”
“I think all of us would wish that things would have gone differently,” Buford said.
The Spurs held a team meeting late in the season, and veterans, led by Tony Parker, implored Leonard to return. Leonard said he was unable to do so because of the injury.
In the 2016-17 season, Leonard averaged a careerbest 25.5 points and was third in the Most Valuable Player voting. The 2014 NBA Finals MVP and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is due just over $20 million next season and can become a free agent in the summer of 2019. He is eligible to sign a $220 million extension with San Antonio.
He is reportedly willing to walk away from that to play elsewhere and prefers to play for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I don’t know that timing is a factor in this from today. ... Our goal is to keep him as part of our program for a long time,” Buford said.
‘I think all of u swo uld wish that things would have gone differently.’ R.C. Buford Spurs general manager