Page 20 - Aruba Today 25 April 2015
P. 20
SPORTS A19
Saturday 25 April 2015
Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard named NBA defensive player of year
RAUL DOMINGUEZ but appeared on few- vin Robertson in 1986 as San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard holds his trophy during
Associated Press er ballots and had 317 the only Spurs to win de- a news conference after he was named the NBA defensive
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San points. Los Angeles Clip- fensive player of the year. player of the year, Thursday, April 23, 2015, in San Antonio.
Antonio forward Kawhi pers center DeAndre Jor- When the Spurs began
Leonard was selected dan finished third, receiv- scouting Leonard at San Associated Press
the NBA defensive player ing 32 first-place votes Diego State University,
of the year on Thursday, and 261 points. they were as impressed
joining Michael Jordan The normally reserved with his humility and work
and Hakeem Olajuwon Leonard did allow for an ethic as by his athleticism,
as the only players to win “aw man” and a huge his 7-foot-3 wingspan and
the award and the NBA smile when he was pre- 9.8-inch long hands.
Finals MVP. sented with the award “(His qualities were) a
“Growing up as a kid, in front of Spurs coach defensive first mental-
you’re watching these Gregg Popovich and ity, being a good team-
players and you want to several teammates, who mate,” San Antonio
become who they are or arrived in San Antonio general manager R.C.
get the accolades that only hours earlier from Los Buford said. “Working on
they have. It just shows Angeles. The Spurs beat his game and working on
that hard work pays off,” the Clippers 111-107 in the things you need to
Leonard said. overtime on Wednesday develop, not just doing
He led the league in to even the first-round the things that you like to
steals at 2.3 per game playoffs series at 1-1. develop, (as well as) the
and has become the After becoming the third- competitiveness.”
Spurs’ primary individual youngest player to win That was why Buford
defender. Finals MVP, Leonard has made the then unpop-
Leonard received 37 followed that up by be- ular decision to trade
first-place votes and 333 coming just the sixth for- reserve point guard
points from a U.S. panel ward to lead the league George Hill to Indiana for
of 129 writers and broad- in steals since it began Leonard’s rights. Leonard
casters. Golden State for- tracking that statistic 42 has rewarded Buford’s
ward Draymond Green years ago. He joins David faith over his four-year
had 45 first-place votes, Robinson in 1993 and Al- career.q
Saturday 25 April 2015
Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard named NBA defensive player of year
RAUL DOMINGUEZ but appeared on few- vin Robertson in 1986 as San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard holds his trophy during
Associated Press er ballots and had 317 the only Spurs to win de- a news conference after he was named the NBA defensive
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San points. Los Angeles Clip- fensive player of the year. player of the year, Thursday, April 23, 2015, in San Antonio.
Antonio forward Kawhi pers center DeAndre Jor- When the Spurs began
Leonard was selected dan finished third, receiv- scouting Leonard at San Associated Press
the NBA defensive player ing 32 first-place votes Diego State University,
of the year on Thursday, and 261 points. they were as impressed
joining Michael Jordan The normally reserved with his humility and work
and Hakeem Olajuwon Leonard did allow for an ethic as by his athleticism,
as the only players to win “aw man” and a huge his 7-foot-3 wingspan and
the award and the NBA smile when he was pre- 9.8-inch long hands.
Finals MVP. sented with the award “(His qualities were) a
“Growing up as a kid, in front of Spurs coach defensive first mental-
you’re watching these Gregg Popovich and ity, being a good team-
players and you want to several teammates, who mate,” San Antonio
become who they are or arrived in San Antonio general manager R.C.
get the accolades that only hours earlier from Los Buford said. “Working on
they have. It just shows Angeles. The Spurs beat his game and working on
that hard work pays off,” the Clippers 111-107 in the things you need to
Leonard said. overtime on Wednesday develop, not just doing
He led the league in to even the first-round the things that you like to
steals at 2.3 per game playoffs series at 1-1. develop, (as well as) the
and has become the After becoming the third- competitiveness.”
Spurs’ primary individual youngest player to win That was why Buford
defender. Finals MVP, Leonard has made the then unpop-
Leonard received 37 followed that up by be- ular decision to trade
first-place votes and 333 coming just the sixth for- reserve point guard
points from a U.S. panel ward to lead the league George Hill to Indiana for
of 129 writers and broad- in steals since it began Leonard’s rights. Leonard
casters. Golden State for- tracking that statistic 42 has rewarded Buford’s
ward Draymond Green years ago. He joins David faith over his four-year
had 45 first-place votes, Robinson in 1993 and Al- career.q
