Durant: Spurs' Leonard has grown so much
OKLAHOMA CITY - Two years ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant tweeted that Kawhi Leonard was a good player who got a lot of help from the San Antonio Spurs' system.
Durant recognizes the Leonard Oklahoma City is about to square off against is much more. In fact, Durant is so impressed that he checks how Leonard performs each game.
''He's grown so much,'' Durant said. ''He's probably the best in the league at shooting the mid-range (jumper) off the dribble. He posts up, dribbles, can shoot the three, catch and shoot. Their team, their system, their continuity and how they move allows him to get free a lot of times and utilizes his game.''
Durant respect for Leonard has also grown over the years.
After Leonard was named Finals MVP in 2014, Durant said on Twitter he would take Indiana's Paul George over Leonard, and that Leonard was ''doing work like this because of the system.''
Durant later clarified, saying he meant no disrespect to Leonard, he simply liked George better. Last month, Durant, unprompted, said Leonard is not a ''system player.''
On Saturday, Durant and Leonard will renew acquaintances in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals in San Antonio.
Their individual matchup will be worth keeping an eye on.
Durant is a four-time scoring champion who averaged 28.2 points and a career-high 8.2 rebounds per game this season. Leonard is the two-time reigning defensive player of the year who was a first-time All-Star this season and led the Spurs in scoring.
Leonard knows his job will be difficult because of Durant's versatility.
''Being able to do everything on the floor, shoot, get in the paint, post, create shots for his teammates,'' Leonard said of Durant's skills. ''Just active the whole game.''
Leonard has also become more of an offensive threat. His scoring average has increased from 12.8 points per game in 2013-14, to 16.5 last season, to 21.2 this season. He shot a career-high 44.3 percent from 3-point range on a career-high 291 attempts this season.