ANG pagkulit og kaugalingon kasaysayan maoy tipik sa mensahe nga gipaabot ni Kawhi Leonard ngadto sa iyang mga kaubanan sa Los Angeles Clippers.
Atol sa pormal nga pagpaila ni Leonard ug Paul George ngadto sa team nga gitambungan usab sa team-owner nga si Steve Balmer ug coach Doc Rivers, si Leonard mipabuhagay nga usa ka dakong hagit alang kaniya ang oportunidad nga makab-ot na gyud ang dugay nang gitinguha sa team.
“It’s an opportunity for us to just build our own, you know what I mean?” matod ni Leonard. “To make history. They haven’t been to a Finals. They haven’t won a Finals. That was something big and exciting for me.”
Si Leonard nahitapo sa Clippers human kini mamahimong free agent samtang si George nakuha pinaagi sa trade gikan sa Oklahoma City.
Isip suporta sa gipadayag ni Leonard, si George gibati usab og kahinam.
“I want to be a part of something special,” ingon ni George. “I want to help build something special, and this is surreal to be home and do it for a team that I grew up with, and wanted to be a part of ever since they missed out on me in the draft. But that’s another story. That wasn’t on Steve’s time, so it’s cool.”
Dihay higayon nga hapit sila magkauban sa Indiana Pacers, kinsa mipili ni George sa 2010 drafting ug ni Leonard niadtong 2011 Draft, apan gibaylo kini ngadto sa San Antonio niadtong gabihiona.
Gibutyag usab ni Leonard nga kon dili pa tungod ni George, posibling mopirma na unta siya sa Los Angeles Lakers o sa Toronto Raptors.
“I was very close. Real close,” ingon ni Leonard. “But when (the Clippers) presented the opportunity of playing with Paul it was easy, it was a yes. I said let’s get it going.”
“This is probably going to be my first time playing with an elite player on his level around the same age as me, same talent,” dugang ni Leonard. “I’m excited.”
Kon kahinumdoman, ang Clippers bisan pa man sa presensiya nila ni Chris Paul, Blake Griffin ug Tobias Harris, ang Clippers wala gyud makaabot sa Western Conference final. Kini maoy gustong nilang putlon. (JBM)