SAN ANTONIO – Kawhi Leonard signed a $94 million extension last summer, but he apparently can’t live without his Wingstop coupons.
That was just one of the interesting takeaways from "Sports Illustrated’s" feature on the Spurs All-Star forward.
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SI writer Lee Jenkins profiled Leonard and discovered Kawhi often drives a 1997 Chevy Tahoe nicknamed the “Gas Guzzler.” It’s the same SUV he had in high school.
"It runs," Leonard told Jenkins. “And it's paid off."
Leonard also has no plans to shave his famous cornrows anytime soon despite claims from his friends that shaving his braids would expand his endorsement opportunities.
"I don't like to bring attention to myself. I don't like to make a scene,“ Leonard told Jenkins.
This excerpt from Jenkins’ article shows Leonard’s simplicity off the court even though he has become a superstar on it.
“He is happy to sponsor Wingstop, which sends him coupons for free wings, so he can feed his Mango Habanero addiction. This winter, after his $94 million contract kicked in, he panicked when he lost his coupons. Wingstop generously replenished his supply.”
Aside from his love for Wingstop, the feature goes in-depth into the Spurs acquisition of Leonard in the 2011 NBA Draft, his offensive development and his defensive ability to shut down the opponent's top scorer.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said Leonard’s hunger to be the best is real.
His hard work and humility also standout in a league full of NBA players seeking stardom.
“He wants the greatness badly,” Popovich said. “He doesn’t give a damn about the stardom.”
Leonard has posted career highs in scoring this season and was named as a starter for this year’s Western Conference All-Star team.
He also on track to take the crown from Tim Duncan as the most Spurs-iest player on the roster.
