Kawhi Leonard spurned the Lakers in 2019 because he didn’t want to play with LeBron James. Instead, he chose the Clippers with Paul George and full control — a move now clouded by underwhelming playoff results and the explosive sponsorship scandal.
The 2019 free agency saga surrounding Kawhi Leonard has resurfaced with new revelations.
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard
Position: SF, SG
Age: 34
Height: 201 cm
Weight: 102 kg
Birth place: Riverside, United States of America
According to the Toronto Star, Leonard never seriously considered joining the Los Angeles Lakers, primarily because he didn’t want to share the spotlight with LeBron James. That decision narrowed the competition to the Toronto Raptors, who had just won the title with Leonard, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Raptors made a strong push, but Leonard’s camp demanded unusual perks — including ownership stakes in the NHL’s Maple Leafs and lucrative sponsorship deals worth over $10 million annually. These were rejected, and Leonard ultimately chose the Clippers, who granted him maximum control of the roster, highlighted by the blockbuster trade for Paul George.
Since then, the Clippers have fallen short of expectations. Despite Leonard’s $210 million contract, the team has advanced past the second round of the playoffs only once in six seasons.
Meanwhile, the ongoing Aspiration sponsorship scandal — which includes $7 million in payments to Leonard for no actual services rendered — threatens to overshadow his Los Angeles chapter. Ironically, Leonard’s refusal to team up with LeBron James may have saved the Lakers, who instead pivoted to other stars and are now looking to the future with Luka Dončić as the franchise centerpiece.
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