One meeting, two stories who do you believe?
Let’s start with ESPN’s Woj & Ramona Shelbourne.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich traveled Tuesday to Southern California with the intention of meeting with Kawhi Leonard prior to Thursday’s NBA draft, league sources told ESPN.
Leonard had told confidants that he did not want to sit down with Popovich and has been purposely difficult for the Spurs to reach recently. Among the issues, Leonard is angry over what he believes was the Spurs’ mishandling of a quad injury, and remains irate with public comments out of teammate Tony Parker and Popovich that he felt were not supportive of him, league sources said.
The Spurs’ officials priority has been to try to talk with Leonard to work through the issues, league sources said. That’s been communicated to those seeking trade talks, although the Spurs have encouraged some rival teams executives calling about Leonard to present an offer if they so choose, league sources said.
Here is what Shams Charania of Yahoo had to say.
San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard met with coach Gregg Popovich on Tuesday in San Diego, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
The meeting between the two faces of the Spurs’ franchise was done professionally and confidentially, league sources said.
The Spurs’ front office and Leonard’s representatives had been in communication since the season ended, and Leonard has been in contact with coach Gregg Popovich, league sources said. Leonard spent most of the second half of the season rehabbing his injury in New York, where his medical team was based and where he trained with Spurs staffers. He has returned close to full health from the lingering quad injury.
Leonard attended the private memorial service for Popovich’s late wife, Erin, in San Antonio after the season ended, and he interacted with team officials.
ESPN is painting Leonard as being difficult, noncommunicative and not wanting to meet with Popovich. Yahoo is painting him as being professional and in constant contact with the Spurs.
Who do you believe?