Leonard's career night spoils Durant's Warriors debut
The Golden State Warriors are the first team in league history to feature four All-NBA selections from the season prior, but the best player at Oracle Arena Tuesday night wasn't wearing home white.
Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 35 points - buoyed largely by a perfect 15-for-15 performance from the free throw line - as part of a stunning 129-100 Spurs beatdown that spoiled Kevin Durant's Warriors debut.
Leonard, who won his second straight Defensive Player of the Year award and finished runner-up to Stephen Curry in MVP voting last season, added five rebounds, five steals, and three assists in 32 minutes of mostly flawless action.
Leonard becomes only the second Spur in the franchise's decorated history to score at least 35 points and record five steals in the same game, after David Robinson pulled off the feat more than 25 years ago.
LaMarcus Aldridge's contributions in a supporting role (26 points, 14 rebounds), and Jonathon Simmons' surprising 20-point output off the bench are both worth their fair share of praise, but in San Antonio's first season opener without Tim Duncan in 20 years, it was Leonard who reminded fans the Spurs don't need to look far for the star who will write the next chapter in franchise history.