San Antonio Spurs: 10 Early Signs Kawhi Leonard Will Be a Star

San Antonio Spurs fans can't get enough of 20-year-old rookie Kawhi Leonard. Not since the arrivals of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker has there been this kind of anticipation. 

It's been established that Leonard is good, but the question is how good.

If his first 19 games are any indication, I'd put my money on very good. Despite limited action in San Antonio's recent win over the Hornets, Leonard has earned 24 minutes a game this season, including 10 starts and seven games with 30 or more minutes of action.

The comparisons to defensive legend Bruce Bowen should speak volumes, but even Bowen never had Leonard's natural skill set and athletic ability.

Here are 10 early signs Kawhi Leonard will be much more than another Bruce Bowen.

The Physical Tools

Leonard has bigs hands with a nice touch around the rim. He has all the makings of a slasher who can score and get to the line thanks to good quickness and improving ball-handling skills. 

He may never become an elite scorer, but his sheer athleticism gives him the opportunity to score 20 a game in his prime (even if he never becomes much of a pure shooter).

Perhaps most impressively, Leonard has the kind of length that many wing players would envy. The 6'7'' height is nice, but his 7'3'' inch wingspan is very nice. His combined size and quickness help compensate for his modest vertical jump and agility.

Unlike many players his age, Leonard already looks to be stronger than the defender with whom he's increasingly compared—Bruce Bowen.

With a build that could grow into a mold of Gerald Wallace or Andre Iguodala, Leonard has the one thing that can't be coached—all the right physical tools.

Mental Makeup

Leonard has thus far displayed the kind of on-court stoicism that would make Tim Duncan proud. As any Popovich disciple knows, playing for the San Antonio Spurs is all business.

The first key to success? Never get too high or too low.

Leonard seems to have gotten the message. When he pulls off a highlight, he acts like he's been there before. When he struggles, he doesn't disappear.

Leonard has been described as a "gym rat," and there's little doubt the Spurs would only trade beloved George Hill for a player who's head is in the game and committed to improvement. 

Defensive Hustle

The comparisons to Bruce Bowen shouldn't be taken lightly.

His jersey soon to be retired, Bowen was the heart and soul of an iconic Spurs defense. While San Antonio's "Big Three" got most of the headlines, it was Popovich's rigid defense most would credit for those four championships.

Of course, today's Spurs are a different beast. They're more inclined to push the tempo and top 100 or more points.

In Leonard, the Spurs now have hope that they might return to the legendary defense that once defined them. Only time will tell if he becomes a true "stopper," but he's certainly shown signs even when matched up against the likes of Kevin Durant.

Leonard's defense can only be described as tenacious. He's always quick to pressure the ball and stays glued to his man off the ball, as well. Unlike many young rookies, he's willing to fight through screens and harass opposing scorers.

In a city where defense wins championships, Leonard should win more than a few hearts as well.

First-Rate Rebounding

While Leonard may not be the next Dennis Rodman, he has the same opportunity to be an exceptional undersized rebounder. The big hands and long arms help.

Apart from his physical advantages, though, Leonard has the motor to fight for boards at every chance. Combined with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, this hustle factor translates into plenty of second opportunities and the easy shots in the paint that follow.

Leonard is already averaging over five rebounds a game. That may seem pretty average at first glance, but when accounting for minutes played, it's quite impressive.

In fact, his rebounding rate ranks fifth among small forwards at 12.9 (just behind some guy named LeBron). 

Instincts

When Kawhi Leonard gets a defensive rebound, get ready for a fast break. Rather than waiting around to hand the ball off to a guard, Leonard pushes and gets down the court in a hurry. As his court vision and ball-handling improve, he will become a deadly coast-to-coast threat.

Leonard's instincts can also be found on display when he finds himself under the basket. He consistently gets shot-blockers off their feet with a nifty pump-fake or two and rarely comes up empty. 

With the body of a small forward, Leonard plays like a guard in the open floor and a power forward in the paint. As his overall basketball IQ improves, these instincts will really start to shine.

Rapid Improvement

The early knock against Kawhi Leonard was his lackluster shooting and for good reason.

Upon joining the Spurs, Leonard has worked with shooting guru Chip Engelland to improve his shot, and the results have been impressive at times. His three-point percentage has remained inconsistent at 26 percent, but he's twice notched two three-pointers in a game.

In his most recent game against the Atlanta Hawks, Leonard also appeared to show some improved decision making. Rather than settling for outside shots or holding the ball indecisively, on several occasions Leonard caught the ball and went right to the basket (nearly posterizing several Hawks on a missed dunk that still deserved an "A" for effort).

Engelland is widely regarded as one of the best shooting coaches in the game and has worked wonders with Tony Parker's midrange jumper and helped to turn Richard Jefferson into one of the most consistent three-point threats in the game.

It's hard to imagine Leonard won't see similar dividends as he works on his stroke this season.

Fearlessness

There's no question Leonard is being groomed as a shut-down defender.

It remains to be seen whether or not he can replicate the stifling coverage Metta World Peace brought in his prime. However, it's hard to find many rookies who've stood a better chance.

Leonard has already been matched up on the likes of Kevin Durant and LeBron James. The results were mixed, but there was one constant—Leonard never backed down.

With Manu Ginobili injured, Leonard has been inserted into the starting lineup in a trial by fire that would shake the confidence of many rookies. For Leonard, the pressure is even greater—he plays for a team trying to contend for its fifth championship.

Whereas elite rookies like Kyrie Irving or Kemba Walker have time to grow on rebuilding teams, Leonard has no such luxury. He's depended on as the best perimeter defender on a team that needs him. Thus far, he's done nothing but answer that challenge with flying colors.

The Right Coach

Gregg Popovich hasn't inherited many stars, but he certainly has coached a few.

Tony Parker, a former NBA Finals MVP and three-time All-Star, came to San Antonio with the 28th pick in the 2001 NBA draft. Apparently, not many teams imagined him as a star.

Despite clear talent, Parker struggled early in his career to strike the right balance between scoring and creating opportunities for his teammates. Popovich's staff helped change Parker from a European import with promise into the leader of a championship team.

He did the same with Manu Ginobili, twice an All-Star. Like Parker, Ginobili didn't strike many scouts as a player who would one day take over games and will his team to victory. He slipped all the way to the 57th pick in 1999's NBA draft.

While it may be sacrilege to qualify the greatness of coaches like Phil Jackson or Doc Rivers, it would be hard to argue they've done more than Gregg Popovich to take good talent and make it great. Their Bulls, Lakers and Celtics teams had ready-made legends on hand.

Except Tim Duncan, who was a no-brainer to go first in the draft, Pop's proven to be one of the rare coaches who can develop stars and coach them to the finals.

All signs point to Leonard being the next in line.

A Perfect Fit

The San Antonio Spurs care as much about finding players with character and intelligence as they do adding pure talent. Their system is characterized by an intricate motion offense and a defensive concept that relies heavily on help and trusting teammates.

Popovich has long held that "corporate knowledge" is more important to championships than adding a dominant player or shipping out aging personnel.

Leonard has proven thus far to be nothing if not coachable.

He's come off the bench, guarded the opposing team's best player, started alongside Richard Jefferson as more of a two-guard (rather than at the 3 and 4 he played at San Diego State). 

If Leonard continues to buy into the team concept that has characterized the Spurs' legacy, he has every chance to be a star—even if it as the kind of unassuming star Spurs fans love.

We Should Trust R.C. Buford

Once the Spurs' Director of Scouting, general manager R.C. Buford has overseen one of the most impressive modern-day NBA dynasties. Stealing Manu Ginobili late in the second round ranks as an all-time historic heist (followed closely by nabbing Parker).

More recently, Buford's scouts snagged another second-round gem with DeJuan Blair at the 37th pick of the 2009 NBA draft. Deterred by surgeries on Blair's knees, teams left Blair for the Spurs, and he's continued to improve in his third season and earned consistent minutes as a starter.

The No. 28 draft pick in 2007, Tiago Splitter has come a long way in his sophomore season, scoring a career-high 25 points against the New Orleans Hornets on Monday and another 16 on the Hawks two days later. In his last five games, the big man from Brazil is averaging 14.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in just under 24 minutes a game.

If these are the examples of what Buford can find near the bottom of the draft, you have to be excited about a guy the Spurs traded to get with the 15th overall pick in 2011. Some had projected Leonard to go even higher, and he's already showing many around the NBA why. 

To hear Buford himself explain the potential he sees in Kawhi, it's hard to expect anything less than stardom. Given another year or two of development, the verdict should be that much clearer, and R.C. will once again be proven a basketball luminary.