Does Adam Silver Hate Kawhi Leonard (and the Clippers)?

When I was in college, I had this mentor who's successful in the world and like 1000x wiser than I am.  This is back in the days when your boy was young, hot and always bitching about the system.

So one day, I can't remember exactly what the occasion, but she was like warning me against talking too much shit.  And the way she did so was by dropping some jewels that go 'people do favors for those they like', or some like that.  She was into politics also, and her point was that as for those who are higher up on the organizational ladder, you're more likely to receive their favor - in other words move up yourself - if they actually like you.  That's like some "duh" type shit.  But the reason she was letting me know is because sometimes, you know, when niggas get emotional and shit, like we can even forget something that basic.  You know what I mean?  We start thinking that all we need is talent or aggressiveness or whatever to be successful, but the world isn't that simple.

That's the kinda shit that I think of when the plight of Kawhi Leonard comes to mind - and by extension that of the Clippers.  We all know that public perception matters, especially when you're a celebrity.  But we also know that most celebrities are fuckups just like the rest of us.  So it takes something pretty extreme - like say Kobe being accused or rape, or Josh Primo flashing his dong, i.e. criminal activities - to like permanently run the risk of scarring your image.

Then besides for the illegal there is also the immoral, like that shit Ime Udoka did.  Morality is a lot more subjective than breaking the law, especially in today's world.  But still, it matters.

But then, what about the unethical?  That's the kinda shit that no one can say you broke the law, nor can say you did something wrong per se.  But still, it's like the shit you did just wasn't right.

That's how I felt when Kawhi Leonard forced himself off the Spurs.  None of us out here in internet land really know what he was going through within the organization or even within himself.  What we do know is that he no longer wanted to play for San Antonio, and you know, niggas empathized, because many of us know also know how it feels to be stuck working for an employer you've grown to hate.  But it's like damn, all things considered at least try to play out your contract.

Dudes back in the days, like Scottie Pippen, deadass signed for 7 years (though it was actually five years).  And I believe that may be one of the main reasons why they stopped hastily signing longer contracts, just for scenarios like this, i.e. either party growing discontent along the way.

Before Kawhi, the closest I can remember an NBA player pulling some shit like that was when Carlos Boozer swankydanked the Cavs, or whatever you wanna call what he did.  If he had stuck around, like who knows.  LBJ may have been able to win a championship the first time around, and NBA history of the last 15 years would look vastly different.  Maybe David Stern was pissed at Boozer, but it didn't really matter, because with Carlos, the Jazz never went on to really accomplish shit anyway, and the Cavs still managed to thrive even without him.

The same cannot be said concerning Kawhi's departure from the Spurs.  He forced himself out of SA, went to the Raptors and instantly won a championship.  Kawhi is arguably, at least imo, the most-impactful player in the entire NBA.  If he were healthy, there's no reason not to believe that the Clippers will win a championship(s), because they're damn near contenders even without him (i.e. when George is healthy).

So my conspiracy theory, for awhile now, is that Leonard's injuries are being overexaggerated, because the powers-that-be don't want him going down in history as one of the greatest players ever, which he actually is and will universally be recognized for if he's able to lead three different franchises to the Larry O'Brien.  Why are they hating on him?  Because that shit he did to the Spurs was grimey.  Like everybody loves Pop and respects the Spurs.  But Kawhi bouncing fuckedup their dynasty set this team back probably for decades.  And it would be one thing if they were contending without Leonard, or if Kawhi ended up sucking without them.  Then there would be justice, as with Carlos Boozer.  But neither has been the case, so you know, shadow government time.

CONCLUSION

So unfortunately, based on that theory, it's like the Clippers got caught in the crossfire.  They have one of, if not the best team in the NBA but not the blessing of the league itself, is what I believe.  And if all of that is true, as weird as it may sound, the only way Kawhi may be able to correct the situation is to return to the Spurs.