MIAMI — The obvious choice to speak to the huddled masses of media yearning to breathe in quotes about what they just saw in Game 3 of the NBA Finals was the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard, who moments earlier dunked the Heat at both ends.
But Leonard would have preferred dunking his head in a vat of acid.
“I told them I didn’t want to go to the podium,” Leonard said. “I had already did like four different interviews with different [TV] stations. I didn’t want to get asked the same questions for a fifth time.”
So after his scintillating 29-point game and defensive gem against LeBron James helped ignite a historic 111-92 victory over the Heat and a 2-1 series lead for the Spurs, the soft-spoken Leonard avoided the national interview spotlight Tuesday. The 22-year-old declined the chance to respond to such insightful queries as “Talk about defense.”
“Everybody has to be their own person when they deal with the media, and Kawhi has done a great job,” said coach Gregg Popovich whose Spurs seek a commanding 3-1 Finals lead Thursday in Miami in Game 4. “He’s a really respectful, polite, young man and he speaks less than Timmy [Duncan] ever did. I think it’s going to take a long time for him to get really comfortable, but I don’t think you’re ever going to get him to sit down and expound on a whole lot of things.”
Not even if he’s asked to reflect on his “thought process about fouling” and other such brain teasers?
“He just wants to do his job,” Popovich said. “He wants to be a great player and go home.”
Leonard made a heckuva statement to that end Tuesday. After scoring 18 total points in the first two games, Leonard heard from Popovich and Duncan, who basically urged him to play aggressively, as he always has, to play like the guy who will be the franchise’s face down the road. He is the future. But the Spurs really needed him in the present.
Leonard, a San Diego State product who joined the Spurs in a 2011 draft night trade with the Pacers for George Hill, always has been aware San Antonio is Duncan-Manu Ginobili-Tony Parker turf. There are protocols.
“When I first [came to] the Spurs, I knew who I was playing with and I knew what type of system they played,” Leonard said. “I knew I wasn’t going to get the ball right away or be a focal point with these great players. But now I just try to play my game and go out there and be aggressive.”
He did that and then some Tuesday. He scored 16 points in the first quarter, sparking the Spurs to their 75.8 percent first-half shooting, the greatest percentage ever for a half in The Finals. Oh, and James? His line showed 22 points and seven turnovers.
“I like to play a more physical game rather than lay off,” Leonard said.
“Kawhi had a really impactful game,” said James, who is likely to hit the court Thursday with flames shooting from his nostrils. “He’s a really good talent, and he’s a big piece of their puzzle. So it’s challenging, for sure. But at this point, it should be.”
Leonard said doing it with defense was more important than finding the bottom of the net again and again.
“Coming to the Spurs, I just really focused on defense,” Leonard said, “because that’s how you’re going to get on the floor. I just try to let my offense come to me. … I’d rather stick it on the defensive end because you never know what’s going to happen on the offense. You could shoot the ball good and it rims in and out or you’re just not having a good night.”
Or do it on both ends like he did in Game 3.
“Making shots was really big,” Leonard said. “I’ve just got to put a full effort on the floor. The shot’s not going to fall like that every night.
“So just being aggressive and trying to make a presence on the defensive end is all I can do.”
And avoiding talking about it afterwards.