Bago lumipat ng Los Angeles Clippers, sinigurado ni 2018 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard meron itong makakasamang top player sa koponan. Kaya naman siya mismo ang nag-recruit ng manlalaro para maging posible ang trade.
Ayon sa ulat ng ESPN, hindi lang pala si Paul George ng Oklahoma City Thunders ang kinausap ng dating Toronto Raptors superstar – maging si Golden State Warriors small forward Kevin Durant.
“Then Durant got a call from Kawhi Leonard, asking if he’d consider teaming up with him and signing with the LA Clippers. They’d be great complements to each other, Leonard told Durant. He’d always admired him and had tremendous respect for him as a competitor.”
Sabi ng isang malapit kay Durant, nagulat at na-flatter siya matapos tawagan ni Leonard.
“He didn’t know Leonard that well, so getting a recruiting call like that made a real impression.”
Pero natuloy pa rin ang sanib-puwersa nina Durant, Kyrie Irving, at DeAndre Jordan sa Brooklyn Nets. Naging close friends ang tatlo noong 2016 sa United States Olympic Team at madalas pagusapang magsasama-sama sila sa isang koponan balang araw.
Natupad ang kahilingan ng mga basketbolista nang opisyal na buksan ang NBA free agency para sa 2019-2020 season noong gabi ng Hunyo 30.
