Tim Duncan Comments on Kawhi Leonard’s Lack of Star Treatment from Refs

Over the past two years, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard has risen to stardom in the league after winning the 2014 NBA Finals MVP, two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and garnering an All-Star selection in 2016.   

But future Hall of Fame teammate Tim Duncan doesn’t think officials have given Leonard the respect he deserves. 

“He’s gotten to the point now where people are being a lot more physical with him, but people are still being allowed to get away with a whole lot of stuff,” Duncan told Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News on Wednesday. “That gets him fired up, and rightfully so. … He’s trying to earn the respect of opponents, officials and everything else.”

Leonard has put up the finest regular season of his five-year career with 21.2 points per game and a defensive win shares mark of 5.5, which trailed only the Atlanta Hawks’ Paul Millsap (6.0), per Basketball-Reference.com. 

He also attempted 334 free throws, which ranked 30th among all players in the …

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