Since Gregg Poppovich took over as a head coach over the San Antonio Spurs in 1996 the Spurs have been the most consistent team in the NBA. They have made the playoffs for the last 20 successive seasons and won 5 championships along the way, the joint most successful during that period. This has largely been done without the acquisition of star players through free agency or high draft picks. Instead focusing on team orientated basketball where ball movement is empathized. The front office have also drafted very well picking up future hall of famers Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli with the 28^th and 57^th picks. Lead by Tim Duncan for nearly 20 years they were often one of the best teams in the league and Popovich carved out a reputation as one of the best NBA coaches off all time. In a star oriented league where player’s like Lebron James are often seen as bigger than the franchise, Popovich has been able to maintain complete control of the team and the players.

 

The Spurs have been in a transition phase in the last few years with the retirement of 5-time champion Tim Duncan and the declining powers of international guards Ginobli and Parker, they needed a young star to lead the team. Kawhi Leonard, selected with the 15^th pick in the 2011 draft after a trade with the Pacers, was now the future of the organisation. Leonard won finals MVP in the Spurs 2014 championship win and had been improving year on year since then, to be considered by most to be a top 5 player in the league. Leonard, like Duncan before him, was the perfect star player for the Spurs. Off the field he was quiet and unassuming, rarely speaking to the media or being involved in any controversies. He does not have huge endorsement deals like many star players and generally shunned the limelight, something Popovich likes from his players. On the field he was the defensive player of the year in 2016 and had improved his offensive game so much that he was considered as one of the best 2 way players in the game. Before the season started many NBA analysts picked Kawhi as the favourite to win the MVP award and many favoured the Spurs to challenge Golden State in the west.

 

Unfortunately things haven’t worked out that way. Leonard has only played 9 games this season and hasn’t stepped on to the court since January the 13^th. Things have been further complicated by the fact that Kawhi has been cleared to play by the Spurs team doctors for the last 2 months. However, Kawhi has told the Spurs that he does not feel ready to return. The Spurs as an organisation are notoriously cautious with injuries and never rush players back before their ready. So it’s surprising that there are contrasting updates on the injury from the two camps.

The injury has caused constant speculation from the media about an apparent feud between Leonard and the Spurs. A recent report from ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski said that the team called a players only meeting to ask Leonard to come back before the playoffs start to help the team make a deep run. Poppovich now says there is no date on Leonards return and he doubts it will be this season. The Spurs currently lie 5^th in the Western Conference Standings but are only 1 game ahead of the Denver Nuggets in 9^th. For the first time in a long time the Spurs are generally in danger of missing out on the playoffs. Even if they do make the playoffs without Kawhi they really aren’t a threat to Golden State or Houston. There are rumours that the Spurs Leonard might ask Spurs for a trade in the summer and with only a year left on his contract it is doubtful that the Spurs would get full value in return for one of the best players in the league.

 

Without Leonard the Spurs are an ageing squad in need of a rebuild. However if the Spurs can get Kawhi back before the season ends fit and firing then they just might have an outside shot of competing. It certainly wouldn’t be ideal but the Spurs still have a talented team. They have been led by La Marcus Aldridge this season, who has had his best year since joining the Spurs, averaging 23 points per game. As well as the talented Rudy Gay, the experienced Paul Gasol and the explosive young point guard Dejounte Murray. Adding one of the top 3 players in the league back into that team along with having the best coach in the NBA will make them a force and no one will want to face them in the playoffs. However if the Spurs and Kawhi cannot fix their differences it might be time for Popovich and the Spurs to go into full rebuild mode for the first time since he became head coach.