Raptors’ superstar Kawhi Leonard is looking for a fresh start in his second stint in Toronto, hoping to leave behind his controversial Clippers tenure, which ended after the NBA found that the franchise violated salary-cap circumvention rules by facilitating off-court income opportunities and endorsement deals for Leonard.
Leonard, however, played in just two games before going out due to left knee swelling, and now he is being called out by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Stephen A. Smith Passes Strong Verdict on Toronto Raptors’ Star Kawhi Leonard
Leonard played a total of 52 minutes, averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting just 32.4% from the field and 28.6% from three. Now, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, Leonard is expected to miss multiple weeks due to the injury. Leonard had an MRI that showed no structural damage.
The Raptors announced he will be sidelined for at least one week to undergo a treatment and rehabilitation program. Afterward, Leonard will be re-evaluated.
“Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss a period of weeks due to swelling in his left knee, sources tell ESPN,” Charania reported. “An MRI on Leonard’s knee showed no structural damage, but sides will use the shorter term to ramp him back up after the stoppages during the offseason.”
After hearing about his latest injury and absence, Smith went off on Leonard. “This is the worst superstar in the history of sports,” Smith said. “I mean, of course his injuries are legit. I’m not questioning that…”
Despite not questioning the validity of the injuries, Smith still called Leonard out. Smith doesn’t want to hear about Leonard’s offseason and any excuses for not being ready for the season.
“He gets paid hundreds of millions of dollars, he is a veteran and he knows exactly what it takes to be ready,” Smith explained. “But he is the master at getting over. This man should give a masterclass.”
Smith appeared to be referring to the Aspiration scandal and continued to call for Leonard to give a masterclass in ‘getting paid for not working.’
“There has been no one better than Kawhi Leonard than getting paid for not working,” Smith exclaimed.
He added, “What were you doing in the offseason to make sure you were ready for this upcoming season? You knew you eventually get you’d traded, you knew you were going to end up in Toronto because you dictated where you wanted to go. You knew all of this stuff and yet here we are. We aren’t even two weeks in and the brother is already getting more time off.”
Leonard was fantastic last season, putting up 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc. Plus, perhaps most importantly, he appeared in 65 games.
Obviously, that is the Leonard the Raptors want to see when he returns from his injury.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.