NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard has established himself as one of the best players of this generation over the past decade. The two-time NBA champion has several records to his name as well. The Klaw shot up to stardom after bagging the NBA Finals MVP at the young age of 22 years during his stint with the San Antonio Spurs. Despite this, not much is known about his family and childhood.

Where was Kawhi Leonard born?

Kawhi Leonard was born on June 29, 1991, in Compton, California to Mark Leonard and Kim Robertson. He came from very humble beginnings, with his father working as a car washer. His parents divorced when Kawhi was very young. Leonard is the youngest and has four elder sisters.

Recently, one of his sisters, Kimesha Williams, was sentenced to life in prison without parole, along with another woman, for the murder of an elderly woman in a casino in 2019.

Very little is known about Kawhi’s other sisters. Also, football star Stevie Johnson is a cousin of the Los Angeles Clippers star.

Kawhi Leonard’s relationship with his father

The marriage of Mark Leonard and Kim Robertson fell apart a few years after the birth of their youngest child. They were subsequently divorced, which was very hard for a young Kawhi to deal with. However, both parents remained close to their children after the divorce. Even though he lived with his mother after the divorce, Kawhi still spent a lot of time with his father. Their love for sports helped them bond and develop a close relationship.

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Kawhi played both football and basketball at school, but later decided to concentrate on his prowess on the hardwood. His father showed full support and pushed him to be a better player.

The tragic murder of Kawhi Leonard’s father

Kawhi Leonard’s skills on the court improved consistently while playing for Canyon Springs Highschool. However, things took a tragic turn in 2008. According to various reports, his father, Mark Leonard, was murdered in his car wash by an unidentified suspect. Sadly, he wanted to leave work early to watch his son play that night.

His father’s death was a major blow to Kawhi and his family. However, the two-time Finals MVP paid tribute to his dad by playing the very next night against Compton Dominguez. He scored 17 points in the losing effort and broke down after the game.

Kawhi Leonard’s relationship with his mother

Kawhi Leonard lived with his mother Kim Robertson after his parents divorced. As per reports, Kim used to run track during her younger years. She has been a major support for Kawhi throughout his life. People react to and process tragedies differently. Kawhi reportedly became very quiet and refused to show grief after the murder of his father. Kim comforted her son during one of his hardest times and helped him process the tragedy.

After his father’s death, Kawhi transferred to Martin Luther King High School. He became a high school superstar and won the California Mr. Basketball award in 2009.?After high school, Kawhi played college basketball for San Diego Aztecs. He declared for the NBA in 2011 and the Indiana Pacers picked him 15th overall in the NBA draft. He was then traded to the San Antonio Spurs.

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Kim moved in with his son after he entered the league. Throughout his life, Leonard’s mother stood by him during his ups and downs. She once got into a heated argument with a fan when Kawhi first returned to San Antonio after forcing a move to the Toronto Raptors.