Kawhi Leonard is confident that the San Antonio Spurs will be the only NBA franchise for which he ever features.
With the Spurs unable to reach a deal on a contract extension with last year's NBA Finals MVP before the Oct. 31 deadline, Leonard is now set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
However, after dropping 26 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night – a regular-season career-high mark, the 23-year-old reaffirmed the growing belief that he isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"I don't think I'm going anywhere," Leonard told USA Today. "I mean they love me here. I like the organization, and if it was up to me, I want to finish out with one team like a lot of great players have done, to stay with one organization their whole career and just be loyal to that. You never know. We'll see what happens next summer, but I'm pretty sure I'll be in a Spurs jersey for my whole life."
Leonard also spoke openly about why a contract extension wasn't agreed upon in October.
"I was never upset about (the extension)," Leonard said. "I mean they explained to me what their deal is and why they didn't do it yet. That'll play out. I'm just here to play basketball and have fun and try to win another championship. If I think about that, then I'm not going to be the same player that I am and will be just out of it.
"I can't be impatient. It would show on the floor, and I won't compete if I'm thinking about getting the ball. I'm just going out there to do my role, the same role – defense first and then see how the ball turns out on the offensive end."
Gregg Popovich, who has previously spoken of his rising star as the future of the Spurs, echoed Leonard's remarks after Monday's contest and praised the youngster's performance against the Clippers.
"We ran more plays for him tonight than I ever have in his career," Popovich said. "That's the plan. We've got to start giving him the ball. You know, he's the future. I don't think Timmy (Duncan) and Manu (Ginobili) are going to play any more than maybe six or seven more years. So we've got to let somebody else do something."
There will inevitably be significant interest in Leonard's services at the season's completion, but the Spurs hold the ability to match any offer that comes his way from other teams.
Through five games this season, Leonard is averaging 12.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals.
