The fact that Kawhi Leonard doesn’t speak much to the media and doesn’t give many insights from the game is considered standard practice now. However, he might not give a fist bump before the final game, which could be a surprise for his teammates. Chiefly, that’s what Norman Powell learned prior to Game 3 back in the 2019 championship.
There was a video that went viral on social media of Powell trying to give Leonard a fist bump, but Leonard denied the gesture at the last second. That moment was captured wonderfully on video and people began reposting it with hilarious comments.
Kawhi was one of the top players with the Toronto Raptors at the time. A robotic, cyborg-like approach to basketball was always his trademark. However, Kawhi’s behavior has benefitted the Raptors on the court. For the first time in franchise history, he led the team to the NBA finals. Alongside a grizzly cast of teammates, Leonard pushed the Raptors to heights never before seen in the organization.
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Kawhi Leonard rejecting Norman Powell’s fist-bump in pregame, a new way to welcome him to the team
We sometimes saw Kawhi’s cold, unfriendly, and formal behavior, but in the end, the game of basketball is what matters. Despite his approach to the game being a subject of discussion, it’s hard to deny Kawhi Leonard’s greatness. His behavior towards Powell is a clear indication that all he wants to do is play well for his team and not worry about anything else.
The video below shows Kawhi rejecting Powell’s fist bump before the game. It was an uncomfortably long interaction between the two players and the awkwardness is palpable. In the end, Kawhi points forward and rejects the bump.
Kawhi welcoming Norman Powell pic.twitter.com/Cc5TztcMAI
— Peter Kim (@YungBolo) February 4, 2022
During those days, he was known for his performance. His scoring contributed a lot to the team. For example, in Game 7 against the Dallas Mavericks. He finished the game with 45 points. He shot 18-for-25 and added six rebounds and four assists. However, the game wasn’t dominated by scoring. What’s remarkable is how he made the shot. Thirteen of his sixteen field goals were two-pointers, and eight of his ten midrange shots were from a distance.
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Leonard is now set to welcome Norman Powell and Robert Covington to Clipper nation and fans will look to see how all players will interact with each other.
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Be sure to share your thoughts on Kawhi’s off-court behavior, especially with his teammates.
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