Kawhi Leonard confident he'll work out Spurs extension
The NBA Finals MVP trophy sits on a bar in Kawhi Leonard's video game room/man cave at his house.
"It's still surreal seeing it there," Leonard told USA TODAY Sports. "Just being able to win it with these three guys (Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili) … just being so young, I never thought I would get the Finals MVP."
The youngest finals MVP winner since Magic Johnson in 1980 and one of six to win Finals MVP without being an All-Star in that season, Leonard, 22, is on the doorstop of stardom after his outstanding performance against the Miami Heat in the Finals.
He averaged 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds and shot 61.2% from the field and 57.9% on three-pointers and scored at least 20 points in the final three games of the Finals, the first time he has scored at least that many points in three consecutive games.
"Coming in, I wanted to be a great player, and right now at the beginning of my career, I'm showing some slight sunshine that I can be the player I want," Leonard said. "I just have to move forward and keep working on my game and getting better."
Leonard has enjoyed the hours since winning the championship, spending time with teammates, family and friends and looking forward to the Spurs' parade along San Antonio's River Walk and celebration at the Alamodome on Wednesday evening.
But he knows "what's next" is already here, starting with the possibility of a contract extension this summer. If the Spurs and Leonard don't reach a deal on an extension between July 1 and Oct. 31, Leonard could be a restricted free agent after the 2014-15 season.
"I'm just playing," Leonard said. "The Spurs are a great organization. I'm leaving that to my agent, and I'm sure they'll come out with a great understanding and a deal. I'm not focused on that at all."
Expectations are higher coming off a series in which he often defended Miami's LeBron James and had James guarding him. Against the best player in the world, Leonard excelled.
Duncan, Parker and Ginobili won't be around forever, and even with them around coach Gregg Popovich has repeated that Leonard needs to be the best Spurs player on the floor if they want to win.
"The next step is learning how to carry a team and carry the full load scoring-wise," Leonard said. "I know people are going to put the main focus on stopping me, so I need to learn how to make my teammates better by passing and creating opportunities for them."
Leonard's 2014-15 could be similar to Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George's 2013-14, when teams really made an attempt to limit George and George at times struggled with all the attention on stopping him.
The world is about to change for Leonard, and that's why Parker urged reporters to give Leonard room and time.
"I hope you don't put too much pressure on him because he's still got time," Parker said. "We do it as a team, and we play together. Kawhi won that award, and it's well deserved. At the same time, you have to let him grow. He's only 22."
Popovich has urged Leonard to take a bigger role and said the conversations between him and quiet and reserved Leonard are "mostly one way."
"But he listens and he's a great learner and super competitive, has a drive to be the best that's really uncommon in our league," Popovich said. "He walks the walk. He is there early. He's there late. He wants more. He wants me and the coaches to push him.
"So I just talked to him about not being in that deferment or that defer sort of stage. The hell with Tony, the hell with Timmy, the hell with Manu, you play the game. You are the man. You're part of the engine that makes us go. And it starts with his defense and his rebounding, and he's starting to feel his oats offensively."
Popovich rarely calls plays for Leonard, and the way San Antonio plays offense based on superior ball movement, the ball generally finds the right player. Popovich doesn't need to call many offensive plays unless he demands Duncan get the ball in the low post or Parker run a pick-and-roll with Duncan. But the coach might need to start calling more plays for Leonard.
Leonard said he will take time off, maybe take a vacation and then start preparing for next season, spending most of his time in San Antonio and Southern California.
In the meantime, the demands on Leonard's time will increase. The late-night talk shows want him as a guest, and the Spurs are taking hundreds of calls for interview requests.
The exposure also could open endorsement possibilities for Leonard, who has regional sponsorship deals with McDonald's, AT&T, BBVA Compass bank and Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B. He also is transitioning from Nike to Jordan Brand and received a congratulatory text message from Michael Jordan after Game 5.
And Leonard doesn't turn 23 until June 29. Will he get himself anything for his birthday?
"I already did with the championship," he said. "That's all I need for my birthday."