Kawhi Leonard, “Uncle Dennis” Robertson and Leonard’s mother, Kim, in 2019. (Frank Gunn/AP)
LOS ANGELES — The meeting was set for a July afternoon in 2019, and the goal was clear: Close the deal with Kawhi Leonard, the reigning Finals MVP and top prize of the NBA summer.
With stakes that high, the Los Angeles Clippers enlisted big names: Doc Rivers, their coach who hosted the meeting at his house in Malibu; Jerry West, the Hall of Famer and team consultant; Lawrence Frank, the team’s president of basketball operations; and Steve Ballmer, the richest owner in basketball.