Ginobili: Leonard's leadership style is similar to Duncan's
The retirement of Tim Duncan after 19 seasons has resulted in a changing of the guard of sorts for the San Antonio Spurs, with the proverbial torch being passed to Kawhi Leonard to be the team's new leader and face of the franchise.
Leonard evolving into a vocal leader won't happen overnight. He's carried a relatively quiet demeanor since entering the league 15th overall back in 2011, although that may not necessarily hurt him now that he's being thrust into a larger role.
Veteran guard Manu Ginobili knows Leonard has it in him to be that kind of player on the floor and in the locker room, comparing his "lead by example" ways to that of "The Big Fundamental."
"He doesn't need to say much, just keep working the way he does," Ginobili said on Thursday, according to the San Antonio Express-News's Melissa Rohlin.
Related: Spurs' Leonard misses Duncan already
Ginobili contemplated retirement himself, but ultimately decided to re-sign with San Antonio on a 1-year, $14-million contract that will, in all likelihood, be his last as an NBA talent.
Related - Pop: Losing both Ginobili, Duncan 'would have been awful'
With the runs of the final two members of the Spurs' famous Big 3 (Tony Parker being the other) winding down, the continued evolution of Leonard in a leadership role will be crucial to keeping the team afloat once that change eventually comes to pass.
Leonard averaged a career-high 21.2 points in 2015-16, along with 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and a rejection on 50.6 percent shooting from the field and 44.3 percent from behind the arc. He was also named to his first All-Star team, and captured his second Defensive Player of the Year award in as many years.