After the San Antonio Spurs routed the Heat into elimination in game 5 of the 2014 NBA Finals, the Spurs young rising Star, Kawhi Leonard, not only became a champion but also a finals MVP.
At only 22 years of age, he became the third youngest finals MVP in NBA history behind legend Magic Johnson - who became MVP twice at the age of 20 and 22 - and ahead of the former third youngest awardee his teamate, Tim Duncan, who won the award at age 23 with his first title with coach Gregg Popovich in 1999 - Leonard was still 7 years old at that time.
"Right now, it's just surreal to me," Leonard said. "I have a great group of guys behind me."
The Spurs versatile forward was outstanding in the finals, doing exceptionaly well on bothg ends of the floor despite being frequently matched up with Lebron James. He did not allow Lebron and the Miami Heat to make easy baskets whether it was jump shot or a drive to the cup, forced turn overs, blocked shots and stole passes, grabbed rebounds both offensive and defenseive, ran back and forth in transition, and knocked down the spot-up three attempts the Spurs fluid ball movement created. He was simply everywhere in the basketall court.
After destroying the Heat in Game 3 and 4, he was again a nightmare for the Heat in Game 5, hitting a momentum changing 3-pointer in the second quarter that gave the Spurs its first lead of the game with 4 minutes left on the clock. He finished the game leading the Spurs in points with 22 along with 9 big rebounds, two assists, and a block and a steal. Leonard, a 2014 All-Defensive Second Team selection, again played stellar defense on four-time NBA MVP LeBron James in game 5.
But perhaps what's most surprising about Leonard in the 2014 NBA finals was his fearless attitude and relentless desire to win. In the biggest stage of basketball, againts the best player on the planet, he rose to the occasion and responded againts immense adversity. Kawhi Leonard, at the tender age of 22 years has still a long way to go but has already shown that he has what it takes to be one of the greatest of them all when he led his team to its fifth NBA title in franchise histoy.
The future is bright indeed for San Antonio Spurs with their young star in Kawhi Leonard.
Join the Conversation