A ‘vintage’ Kawhi Leonard turning back the clock! After the game 1 debacle against the Nuggets, the 33-year-old exploded in game 2 of the first round. Down 1-0 against Nikola Jokic was always going to be difficult. But the Klaw made sure to tie the series 1-1. Due to numerous injuries, the Clippers’ star has never featured in all 82 games during the regular season and has missed the majority of the playoffs in the last 4 seasons. This performance was not only a reminder of his ability, but also brought a smile to Carmelo Anthony’s face, who once trained him.

With every surgery and procedure, it seemed less and less likely that we’d ever see him at his best again, until this game 2. It’s been five years since the 33-year-old last finished a season for the LA Clippers. After the game high 39 points, even the 10x All-Star couldn’t keep his calm. “Kawhi is special always; always been special. I just I love watching Kawhi play because I know the essence of what how he plays.”

Melo, a fellow mid-range jumper, appreciated the lost art of Leonard. “Utilizing a part of the game that nobody else can utilize. The mid-range is his money, he’s efficient, he’s effective, he going to get to his spot, you don’t know how to guard that, cuz you don’t guard that, you don’t defend that. You don’t practice how to defend that, so you got somebody who kind of mastered those spots. This is what we said with Kawhi.”

This was Carmelo Anthony’s analysis of the Klaw’s performance against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2. After all, he was the one to impart some of his shooting technique to the 6x All-Star. Former New York Knicks trainer Chris Brickley once narrated the story about Melo helping young Leonard. “This was before he was an All-Star. He came up to me and was like, ‘I want to learn Melo’s moves.’” Anthony happily obliged and played a part in helping the then-young forward in his career.

The trainer continued, “I asked Melo, he said, ‘Sure.’ We worked, and [Kawhi] had a breakout season. Won a championship, was an All-Star, was [Finals MVP], and I was like wow.” Maybe, the performance brought back the times when Carmelo Anthony trained the 2x Finals MVP.

Carmelo Anthony connected the current situation of Leonard to a resurgent Warriors star

“I’m just happy that I’m able to move and I’m coming out the game feeling well, and that’s what I’m taking my pride on, is just being healthy.” The Klaw made a heartfelt statement on his health after missing 4 playoff series for the Clippers. He even missed the start of the season due to rehabilitation from inflammation in his right knee. But now he is back and feels like his old self.

“He was playing hurt, so we was meeting him at where he was at,” said Carmelo Anthony. “So, now he’s you know, a much better situation physically, mentally, probably emotionally, like now he can lock in. And we meeting him back here, right, Jimmy Butler effect too.” The comparison is with Jimmy Buckets after his own issues with the Miami Heat, which led to suspension and a trade to the Warriors. Ever since the move, the Warriors are now 25-8, counting the play-in victory over Memphis and Game 1 in Houston.

Speaking about stats, as per NBA University on X, since Kawhi Leonard’s final playoff run in SAS (’17), he has played 66 playoff games. In those games, his single average is higher than his regular-season average. 29.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, plus 1.9 steals, that too with an efficient 63.6 TS%. Naturally, everybody is excited for the Klaw to hoop at his very best, especially after his torrid injury spells.