Kawhi Leonard Reveals the Mentality That Makes Him Great

Kawhi Leonard is quietly having one of the best seasons of his career. Even though Kawhi has already had multiple seasons where he has been smack dab in the middle of the MVP conversation, this season may be his best.

As of Wednesday, Kawhi is averaging a career-high of 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and two steals a game. The Clippers started the season with one of their worst starts in NBA history, but Kawhi has helped them claw their way back up the Western Conference standings. The Clippers are currently 36-36, which is good for the 8th seed in the West.

Kawhi was asked recently about the mindset that has made him a better player, and he gave a fairly thoughtful answer.

“It’s been a mindset I’ve had over years. And how I’ve gotten better. Not shying away from moments. I’ve had great coaches in the past and the present that allowed me to make mistakes in-game, knowing that for me, the tide would turn. And either I’m gonna get better at it or find different ways to execute what I’m trying to do. Over my whole career it’s been get shots up in the game. Because you can’t really get better waiting on the next game. Or at practice. It is good to get up 100s of shots, but what’s the use of it if you’re not gonna shoot in the game? I don’t like wasting time.”

Having your best season at 34 years old is an incredible feat, especially for someone like Kawhi, who has seen his career plagued by injuries. His determination to stay dominant and overcome his injuries is proof of his elite mentality that he’s built over the years.