NBA: What Every Team Should Be Thankful For In 2016-17

Oct 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (middle) during the national anthem before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (middle) during the national anthem before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (middle) during the national anthem before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (middle) during the national anthem before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs

Stealing Kawhi

The San Antonio Spurs have a number of reasons to be thankful this holiday season. They could be thankful for their elite front office, for employing the best coach in NBA history or for Tim Duncan not making a scene when he decided to retire.

Or, they could be thankful for stealing Kawhi Leonard away from the Indiana Pacers. In essence, that’s exactly what they did a few years ago when they sent George Hill in exchange for Leonard on draft night.

The Spurs are now headed into the new era of San Antonio basketball led by Kawhi, who could be in the lead for the NBA’s MVP award. Amazing.