NBA Latest News: Spurs Brace For Kawhi Leonard's Leadership?

San Antonio Spurs veteran guard Manu Ginobili told Argentinian newspaper La Nacion that Kawhi Leonard's leadership is similar to Tim Duncan's in that he doesn't need to say much. The San Antonio Spurs look up to Kawhi Leonard as its new leader after Duncan announced his retirement.

Nonetheless, Ginobili said that he expects they will miss Duncan more as the season progresses. Seeing another person in his place is, presumptively referring Leonard, is odd, NBC Sports reported.

Although no longer a player of the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan manages to show up at the team's training camp. The San Antonio Spurs are also expected to have a deep run in the playoffs sans Duncan.

Leonard said that he didn't particularly focus on any aspect of the game during the summer as said that he worked on everything and is concentrating on "just becoming a leader," according to ESPN. In 2014, Leonard became the youngest to win the NBA Finals MVP since Magic Johnson. He followed that up with back-to-back NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and averaged 21.2 points while hitting 44.3 percent from his 3-point attempts in finishing second in MVP voting for the 2015-16 season.

Meanwhile, new recruit Pau Gasol will be taking over the starting line up spot left void by Duncan's retirement. Like Duncan, Gasol is among the most intelligent players in the NBA as his new San Antonio Spurs teammates, including Ginobili, can testify.

Ginobili observed that Gasol can tell some of the San Antonio Spurs plays from playing against the before and that the Spaniard absorbs very quickly and understands what they do, Express News reported.

The Spaniard signed with the San Antonio Spurs in July as a free-agent. He is a six-time All-Star, has been voted in the All-NBA selection four times, and has won an NBA title twice, both with the Los Angeles Lakers. He averages of 18.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Gasol also replaced Duncan in the annual H-E-B commercials, and will appear with Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge and Patty Mills. The commercials have gained a global cult following via the internet.