Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players of this generation. However, his honors list is a little different from others. Outside of maybe one season, Leonard has never been considered an MVP. However, he has two Finals MVPs, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and five starts in the All-Star game. Kawhi leads by staying who he is and not being influenced by the moment. However, that calm and cool attitude has never made it onto a USA Team headed to the Olympics. Leonard chose not to play [https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2648082-kawhi-leonard-declines-invite-to-play-in-rio-2016-olympics] for the 2016 Olympic team. However, his declaration now will lead to other stars declaring for the Olympic team, according to Kendrick Perkins. READ MORE: ‘Hall of Fame Player’- Kevin Durant Talks About the Challenge of Slowing Kawhi Leonard Down [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-basketball-news-hall-of-fame-player-kevin-durant-talks-about-the-challenge-of-slowing-kawhi-leonard-down/] “With this opportunity for Kawhi, the first time being able to be on the Olympic team, I’m proud of him and don’t take it for granted. Any other guys out there like Steph Curry, I wanna see him go ahead and play for the Olympics. Go try to win him a gold medal as well, and I strongly believe other guys will follow because everybody loves Kawhi.” KAWHI LEONARD: IS HE GOING TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO DECLARE? Kawhi Leonard [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kawhi-leonard/] going to the Olympics, regardless of how deep the LA Clippers going in the playoffs is a big statement. Many players guarantee their legacies by representing the USA and winning a gold medal. Leonard has only been eligible to be selected once before and passed on that opportunity. Kawhi Leonard [https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-02-22T015602Z_1744277323_MT1USATODAY15609359_RTRMADP_3_NBA-BROOKLYN-NETS-AT-LOS-ANGELES-CLIPPERS.jpg]Feb 21, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots a backwards shot as Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) defends in the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports The Olympic games are not like other international basketball tournaments and will see a lot of players vie to make it on the team. Leonard will most likely be a shoo-in, along with other rumored names to declare, like Steph Curry [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/stephen-curry/] and Damian Lillard [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/damian-lillard/]. The 2019 FIBA World Cup team noticeably lacked stars and had a disappointing finish. The Olympics start one day after the NBA Finals, if the Finals go till a game seven. It will be a major commitment for players on Finals teams to also play in the Olympics, so maybe we shouldn’t pencil Kawhi in so easily, especially because his Clippers are contending. 

Kawhi Leonard declaring for Team USA to play in the 2021 Olympics is going to
create a ripple effect according to a former NBA Champion.

Ishaan Bhattacharya is an NBA, NCAA Basketball, and Combat Sports writer at
EssentiallySports. Currently, Ishaan is pursuing a Post Graduate Degree in
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written for The Indian Express, The Quint, Sportskeeda, and WrestleClub. Ishaan
has a keen interest in theatre and films, and has dabbled in the art, winning
several awards for his scripts over the years. He has written for popular
YouTube channels such as The Wrestling Hub and WhatCulture. Now, Ishaan also
heads the site's NCAA Basketball division.

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‘Everybody Loves Kawhi’- Former NBA Champion Believes NBA Star’s Will Follow
Kawhi Leonard To 2021 Olympics

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<h2><strong>Kawhi Leonard 2022: Net worth, Salary and Endorsements</strong></h2>
Kawhi Leonard, who plays primarily as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nba/">NBA</a>), was born on June 29, 1991, and currently plays for Los Angeles Clippers.

Leonard first played for San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers, but was traded that night to the San Antonio Spurs. Once there, he played with them for seven seasons.

While he was known for his defensive prowess, Kawhi eventually evolved into an incredible two-way player as his offense improved drastically. 1 Finals MVP, 2 All-Star appearances, 2 All-NBA selections and 2 DPOY titles later, 'the Klaw' wanted a new challenge.

[caption id="attachment_608307" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-608307" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210406104735/2021-03-25T012207Z_490486441_MT1USATODAY15789013_RTRMADP_3_NBA-LOS-ANGELES-CLIPPERS-AT-SAN-ANTONIO-SPURS.jpg" alt="Kawhi Leonard" width="1920" height="1280" /> Mar 24, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after scoring a basket against the San Antonio Spurs the first quarter at AT&amp;T Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

Toronto Raptors came calling. After winning a championship with the Raptors, Leonard became a free agent. While he could have re-signed, Leonard opted to stay with a team near LA.

While many rumors linked him to the Lakers, Kawhi joined cross city rivals Clippers along with Paul George. Before moving to the Clippers, Leonard is known to have brought a luxurious $13.3 million worth mansion. He lost his father, Mark Leonard, in 2008.

He lives with his mother Kim Robertson and has two children with his girlfriend, Kishele Shipley. Leonard?s uncle, Dennis Robertson, before Leonard's move to the Raptors, frequently mentioned about a Spurs exit.
<h2>Kawhi Leonard with the Toronto Raptors</h2>
Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Kawhi's time with the Spurs was pretty much done and dusted. With a year left in his contract many teams weren't willing to take a risk in trading for 'the Klaw'.

But the Raptors who had seen multiple seasons of early elimination in the post-season took a massive gamble. Trading away one of their biggest legends in DeMar DeRozan, the Raps added Kawhi.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-236174" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200316204842/kawhi-leonard-6-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2400" height="1499" />

The impact was pretty much immediate. With the Raptors' defense arguably one of the best in the league, Toronto solidified themselves as one of the favorites to win the title. With the Warriors' suffering from injuries in the Finals, the dream became a reality.

Ending the Dubs' dynasty in six games, the city of Toronto were crowned as NBA champions for the first time and Kawhi won his 2nd championship and his 2nd Finals trophy of his career.
<h2>Kawhi Leonard with the LA Clippers</h2>
After an incredible season with the Raptors, Kawhi became a free agent and chose the Clippers as his next destination.

With Paul George forming an incredible partnership with him and a pretty much stacked roster, Leonard and Co. were the favorites to win the 2019-20 season. But an uncharacteristically bad performance meant that the team crashed out in seven games against the Nuggets.

[caption id="attachment_668963" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-668963" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-06-06T215543Z_151792708_MT1USATODAY16217735_RTRMADP_3_NBA-DALLAS-MAVERICKS-AT-LOS-ANGELES-CLIPPERS-1.jpg" alt="Kawhi Leonard" width="1920" height="1271" /> Jun 6, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts during the second half in game seven of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

The 2020-21 playoffs however painted a very different picture. With Kawhi and Paul George perform at their peak, the Clippers looked unstoppable. But their progress came to a screeching halt as Leonard suffered from a partial tear to his ACL.

There is not much progress in the 2021-22 season, as Leonard hasn't played a game yet. His injury is a long-term one, and its evolution will determine his return.
<h2>Major achievements</h2>
2נNBA champion?(2014,?2019)

2נNBA Finals MVP?(2014,?2019)

5? NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)

3? All-NBA First Team (2016, 2017, 2021)

2? All-NBA Second Team (2019, 2020)

2נNBA Defensive Player of the Year?(2015,?2016)

NBA steals leader?(2015)

3נNBA All-Defensive First Team?(2015?2017)

4? NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014, 2019, 2020, 2021)

NBA All-Rookie First Team?(2012)
<h2>Kawhi Leonard stats</h2>
Leonard over the years has grown into one of the best small forwards in the game. In the 576 games he has played, 'the Klaw' for his career has <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leonaka01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">averaged</a> 19.2 points, 2.9 assists and 6.5 rebounds.

For the 2020-21 season, Leonard's output took a small dip in terms of scoring but stepped up in playmaking. Putting up 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and a career high 5.2 assists. As mentioned above, he hasn't featured in the 2022 edition.
<h2>Kawhi Leonard 2022 net worth:</h2>
Leonard's annual salary jumped from $3 million to $17 million in 2015 when he signed a 5-year $90 million contract with the Spurs. <a href="https://playersbio.com/kawhi-leonard-net-worth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PlayersBio</a> estimates Kawhi Leonard's net worth as $70 million.

In the 2021-22 season, 'the Klaw' is set to earn incredible <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/kawhi-leonard-8066/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$39,344,900</a>. Whether or not he can perform and justify his price tag, remains to be seen. He also features in their list of the top 50 World's Highest-Paid Athletes of 2021.

[caption id="attachment_495874" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-495874" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20201229150125/Los-Angeles-Clippers-Vs-Denver-Nuggets.jpg" alt="Clippers' Star Kawhi Leonard" width="1920" height="1280" /> Dec 25, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) guards in the third quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2><strong>Kawhi Leonard endorsements</strong></h2>
Lenard earns around <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/kawhi-leonard/?sh=90f02e95f705" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$5.5 million</a> from his endorsement deals. His major sponsor is the shoe and apparel company New Balance. He previously had a deal with the Air Jordan brand. He also has deals with Honey and Wingstop.
<h2><strong>Kawhi Leonard charity</strong></h2>
After Leonard led Toronto Raptors to the NBA title in 2019, he teamed up with the Clippers foundation and a non-profit organization to donate one million backpacks to underserved children in Los Angeles.

He later joined Los Angeles Clippers and has been involved in various charity works since then. Previously, even during his time with San Antonio Spurs, he took part in many such events.
<h2><strong>How to contact Kawhi Leonard</strong></h2>
Unlike many NBA stars, Kawhi Leonard is not active on social media. Leonard doesn?t have an Instagram account. He has an account on Twitter, but he is hardly active on the platform. For business purposes, Leonard can be contacted through his Management agency.

<strong>Kawhi Leonard?s Twitter: </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/kawhileonard?lang=en">https://twitter.com/kawhileonard</a>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Age</strong></td>
<td width="319">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Nickname</strong></td>
<td width="319">Claw</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Marital Status</strong></td>
<td width="319">Unmarried</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Girlfriend</strong></td>
<td width="319"><a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/kawhi-leonard-his-girlfriend-kishele-shipley-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-couple-kids/">Kishele Shipley</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Nationality</strong></td>
<td width="319">American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Team</strong></td>
<td width="319">Los Angeles Clippers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Height</strong></td>
<td width="319">6? 7? (2.01 m)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Weight</strong></td>
<td width="319">102 kg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Wingspan</strong></td>
<td width="319">2.21 m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Shoes</strong></td>
<td width="319">New Balance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Endorsements</strong></td>
<td width="319">New Balance</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard 2022: Net worth, Salary and Endorsements Kawhi Leonard, who plays primarily as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA), was born on June 29, 1991, and currently plays for Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard first played for San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers, but was traded that night to the San Antonio Spurs. Once there, he played with them for seven seasons. While he was known for his defensive prowess, Kawhi eventually evolved into an incredible two-way player as his offense improved drastically. 1 Finals MVP, 2 All-Star appearances, 2 All-NBA selections and 2 DPOY titles later, &#8216;the Klaw&#8217; wanted a new challenge. Mar 24, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after scoring a basket against the San Antonio Spurs the first quarter at AT&amp;T Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports Toronto Raptors came calling. After winning a championship with the Raptors, Leonard became a free agent. While he could have re-signed, Leonard opted to stay with a team near LA. While many rumors linked him to the Lakers, Kawhi joined cross city rivals Clippers along with Paul George. Before moving to the Clippers, Leonard is known to have brought a luxurious $13.3 million worth mansion. He lost his father, Mark Leonard, in 2008. He lives with his mother Kim Robertson and has two children with his girlfriend, Kishele Shipley. Leonard?s uncle, Dennis Robertson, before Leonard&#8217;s move to the Raptors, frequently mentioned about a Spurs exit. Kawhi Leonard with the Toronto Raptors Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Kawhi&#8217;s time with the Spurs was pretty much done and dusted. With a year left in his contract many teams weren&#8217;t willing to take a risk in trading for &#8216;the Klaw&#8217;. But the Raptors who had seen multiple seasons of early elimination in the post-season took a massive gamble. Trading away one of their biggest legends in DeMar DeRozan, the Raps added Kawhi. The impact was pretty much immediate. With the Raptors&#8217; defense arguably one of the best in the league, Toronto solidified themselves as one of the favorites to win the title. With the Warriors&#8217; suffering from injuries in the Finals, the dream became a reality. Ending the Dubs&#8217; dynasty in six games, the city of Toronto were crowned as NBA champions for the first time and Kawhi won his 2nd championship and his 2nd Finals trophy of his career. Kawhi Leonard with the LA Clippers After an incredible season with the Raptors, Kawhi became a free agent and chose the Clippers as his next destination. With Paul George forming an incredible partnership with him and a pretty much stacked roster, Leonard and Co. were the favorites to win the 2019-20 season. But an uncharacteristically bad performance meant that the team crashed out in seven games against the Nuggets. Jun 6, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts during the second half in game seven of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The 2020-21 playoffs however painted a very different picture. With Kawhi and Paul George perform at their peak, the Clippers looked unstoppable. But their progress came to a screeching halt as Leonard suffered from a partial tear to his ACL. There is not much progress in the 2021-22 season, as Leonard hasn&#8217;t played a game yet. His injury is a long-term one, and its evolution will determine his return. Major achievements 2נNBA champion?(2014,?2019) 2נNBA Finals MVP?(2014,?2019) 5? NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) 3? All-NBA First Team (2016, 2017, 2021) 2? All-NBA Second Team (2019, 2020) 2נNBA Defensive Player of the Year?(2015,?2016) NBA steals leader?(2015) 3נNBA All-Defensive First Team?(2015?2017) 4? NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014, 2019, 2020, 2021) NBA All-Rookie First Team?(2012) Kawhi Leonard stats Leonard over the years has grown into one of the best small forwards in the game. In the 576 games he has played, &#8216;the Klaw&#8217; for his career has averaged 19.2 points, 2.9 assists and 6.5 rebounds. For the 2020-21 season, Leonard&#8217;s output took a small dip in terms of scoring but stepped up in playmaking. Putting up 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and a career high 5.2 assists. As mentioned above, he hasn&#8217;t featured in the 2022 edition. Kawhi Leonard 2022 net worth: Leonard&#8217;s annual salary jumped from $3 million to $17 million in 2015 when he signed a 5-year $90 million contract with the Spurs. PlayersBio estimates Kawhi Leonard&#8217;s net worth as $70 million. In the 2021-22 season, &#8216;the Klaw&#8217; is set to earn incredible $39,344,900. Whether or not he can perform and justify his price tag, remains to be seen. He also features in their list of the top 50 World&#8217;s Highest-Paid Athletes of 2021. Dec 25, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) guards in the third quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports Kawhi Leonard endorsements Lenard earns around $5.5 million from his endorsement deals. His major sponsor is the shoe and apparel company New Balance. He previously had a deal with the Air Jordan brand. He also has deals with Honey and Wingstop. Kawhi Leonard charity After Leonard led Toronto Raptors to the NBA title in 2019, he teamed up with the Clippers foundation and a non-profit organization to donate one million backpacks to underserved children in Los Angeles. He later joined Los Angeles Clippers and has been involved in various charity works since then. Previously, even during his time with San Antonio Spurs, he took part in many such events. How to contact Kawhi Leonard Unlike many NBA stars, Kawhi Leonard is not active on social media. Leonard doesn?t have an Instagram account. He has an account on Twitter, but he is hardly active on the platform. For business purposes, Leonard can be contacted through his Management agency. Kawhi Leonard?s Twitter: https://twitter.com/kawhileonard  Age 30  Nickname Claw  Marital Status Unmarried  Girlfriend Kishele Shipley  Nationality American  Team Los Angeles Clippers  Height 6? 7? (2.01 m)  Weight 102 kg  Wingspan 2.21 m  Shoes New Balance  Endorsements New Balance

Kawhi Leonard: Is he going to inspire others to declare?