David Robinson baffled by Kawhi Leonard's exit from San Antonio David Robinson baffled by Kawhi Leonard's exit from San AntonioCLOSE...
David Robinson baffled by Kawhi Leonard's exit from San AntonioCLOSE
Sports Pulse: USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the blockbuster trade between San Antonio and Toronto.
David Robinson and Kawhi Leonard both won NBA championships as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
But that may be just about the only thing they have in common.
In an interview Monday with ESPN, Robinson said he rarely had any contact with Leonard, despite reaching out on several occasions.
"He's a hard guy to read," Robinson told ESPN's Rachel Nichols.
The Basketball Hall of Famer speculated Leonard's tendency to keep to himself may have strained his relationship with the team and contributed to the Spurs trading him last week t o the Toronto Raptors for fellow All-Star DeMar DeRozan.
"I think the whole time he's been here (in San Antonio), I've talked to him maybe a handful of times, and I can count on one hand how many words he's really said to me," Robinson said. "So he's just a quiet guy, and I think that that's made it difficult, I think, for all parties to really understand each other in this process."
Leonard, the 2014 NBA Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, suffered a leg injury in last year's playoffs that limited him to just nine games this past season. He clashed with Spurs officials over his rehab and recovery process -- and whether or not he was healthy enough to play.
When the Spurs made the playoffs this season, Leonard remained in New York, where he was undergoing rehab.
"It's one of the oddest situations I think I've seen since I've been in pro basketball," Robinson said.
Meanwhile, Leonard has remained typically silent since the trade. However, he did pose for a photo with team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster.
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