Kawhi Leonard Archives - New Hip Hop News

Six More Of The Greatest NBA Player Cameos In Music Videos Of All Time

December 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

drake kawhi leonard magic johnson steph curry music videos — YouTube/Merle Cooper

Basketball players have been appearing in music videos for a pretty long time now. Earlier this year, we looked at some notable examples of this, which included some older examples (Shaq appearing in the video for “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!”) and some newer ones (DeMar DeRozan’s highly-publicized cameo in the video for “Not Like Us”).

Fortunately for us, that was only the tip of the iceberg, as there are plenty of other examples of times when musicians reached out to NBA players and asked them to pop up in the video for one of their songs. And today, we wanted to dive into a few more of these, starting with one of the more surprising cameos we can remember…

Kawhi Leonard: “Way 2 Sexy” by Drake featuring Future and Young Thug

Kawhi Leonard has managed to turn being a boring and laid-back guy into his brand. For how brilliant he is at his best on the basketball court, Leonard is known for being soft-spoken and keeping himself out of the spotlight. All of this is to say that when Kawhi showed up in “Way 2 Sexy” dressed in all white and joined Drake, Future, and Young Thug in essentially lampooning boy band music videos, well, I can safely say I did not see that coming.

Magic Johnson: “Remember The Time” by Michael Jackson

The legendary video for “Remember The Time” is all built around Jackson performing for Egyptian royalty, played in here by Eddie Murphy and Iman. But off to the side, Johnson is the herald who presents performers to Murphy and Iman. Shockingly, it seemed like Magic had a terrific time with the project, and earlier this year, he called getting to be in the video “one of the greatest thrills in my life.”

LeBron James: “Forever” by Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem

Of course LeBron was going to be in this video in some capacity, as it was made for the 2008 documentary More than a Game, which followed around his high school team at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron. He hops onto PokerStars before the track starts, and while we don’t see him in the video again, we get plenty of clips and photos from before he made it to the NBA. However, a few months after the song came out, we did get a famous clip of LeBron rapping along to Eminem’s verse in the waning moments of a Cavs-Lakers game.

Stephen Curry: “Lil Fish, Big Pond” by Tobe Nwigwe

Curry joined Nwigwe in the video for his 2023 release, which was part of the soundtrack for the Apple TV+ release, Stephen Curry: Underrated. In the video, the pair are fishing on a boat, and Curry lip syncs along to the first verse before viewers see that Nwigwe is also on the boat. A little later, the pair sit alongside one another in a stadium.

Metta Sandiford-Artest: “Nas Is Like” by Nas

If you blink, you’ll miss when the two Queens legends link up in the music video for the first track off of “I Am…” It shows Nas throughout Queensbridge, which both he and the former Ron Artest called home as they were growing up. While this is an extremely short cameo, Sandiford-Artest arrives, shows Nas some love, and then looks into the camera at the 1:24 mark.

Grant Hill: “Rockstar” by Nickelback

I’ll be honest with you: I am unsure why Grant Hill appeared in the music video for “Rockstar,” and funny enough, if you take his word for it, Grant Hill wasn’t 100 percent sure why, either. Anyway, the video famously has a ton of celebrities in it, and at one point, Hill shows up and is in the middle of signing a basketball in a gym while he lip syncs the line “sign a couple autographs so I can eat…” before the camera cuts to someone else. He then shows up later and lip syncs “with the movie stars.”

Kawhi Leonard Subjected To Ruthless Memes After Dropping Out Of The Olympics

July 10, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kawhi Leonard is someone who has certainly had to deal with his fair share of injuries over the years. Overall, it has also been impossible for him to stay healthy. He has been in and out of the Clippers lineup with little to no consistency. At this point, fans of the team are worried that their club won’t be all that great for much longer. Paul George just left which means Kawhi is stuck with an aging James Harden and an aging Russell Westbrook. Needless to say, dire straits are ahead.

Having said all of that, fans were surprised when Kawhi Leonard revealed that he would be playing on Team USA at the Olympics. He even made it to training camp this past week. However, his time with the team has already come to an end. Today, it was revealed that he would be stepping back from the team due to injury. Instead, Derrick White of the Boston Celtics would be taking his place. Overall, a terrible fate for a beloved player.

Kawhi Leonard Drops Out

An update on Kawhi Leonard from the USA Basketball Men’s National Team. pic.twitter.com/84TjYpc90i

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 10, 2024

Subsequently, Kawhi became a trending topic on social media. In fact, there was a lot of mockery to go around. Below, you can see a plethora of memes that were made as a way to shame Kawhi for his injury. Many of these memes have been used before as it pertains to Kawhi, but nevertheless. If anything, it just goes to show that fans want to see him play. After all, he is box office when he is at 100 percent.

The Memes Roll In

Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that this is a bad look for Kawhi Leonard given all of the injuries he has gone through over the years? What do you believe is next for the Los Angeles Clippers superstar? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite athletes.

Kawhi Leonard’s knees after 1 practice https://t.co/EBTQ4JfNvd pic.twitter.com/OjLm19f0ql

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) July 10, 2024

Kawhi Leonard on Team USA this summer

pic.twitter.com/FP34QqJNXt

— ℜ𝔬𝔪𝔞𝔫 (@romandontmiss) July 10, 2024

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Stephen A. Smith Throws Shade At Kahwi Leonard Straight To His Clippers Teammate Paul George’s Face

June 13, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Paul George took Josh Hart’s place as the fifth cast member on the pregame and noticeably shortened halftime show when he joined the NBA Countdown team for Games 3 and 4. Because the Dallas Mavericks eliminated George and the Los Angeles Clippers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, George is available. George averaged 19.5 points while playing in all six of the series games. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard played in just two games in the series. It was the third straight postseason where Leonard missed the end of the Clippers postseason with injury. Stephen A. Smith made a point of referencing this on NBA Countdown, saying, “Nobody on the planet knows what it’s like to play without a star than Paul George.”

On set, this sparked a variety of emotions. Malika Andrews and George chuckled right away, while Bob Myers and Michael Wilbon seemed a little taken aback. George hurriedly warned, “Don’t do that,” and Bob Myers chimed in and told Goerge, “Don’t react to that.” Nevertheless, Smith must not have heard him since, half an hour later, he cracked the identical joke. The team was less accommodating at that time.

Stephen A. Smith Throws Shade At Kahwi Leonard In Front Of His Clippers Teammate Paul George

Although everyone was smiling and the talk was lighthearted, Smith made a highly impolitic act that would have put George in a difficult situation with his co-star Kawhi. In addition, George may need to look for housing when he pursues a max contract extension with the Clippers this summer. Since his season-long absence in the 2017–18 NBA season, Kawhi has been among the most injury-prone superstars in the league. Leonard’s health issues on the Clippers persisted, even after he elevated load management to the top of NBA discussions by helping Kawhi lead the Toronto Raptors to an NBA Championship.

Even if George hasn’t exactly been a shining example of availability, Leonard is a player who is more prone to injuries than George. Even so, this isn’t the first time Stephen A. has disparaged Kawhi. A couple of weeks ago, Stephen A Smith called out Clippers star Kawhi Leonard. “He’s The Worst Superstar In Sports,” Smith said of Kawhi. Overall, Stephen A. has a serious bone to pick with Leonard.

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Stephen A Smith Calls Out Clippers Star Kawhi Leonard: “He’s The Worst Superstar In Sports”

May 30, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Never one to back down from a wil take, Stephen A. Smith has presented a compelling case for Kawhi Leonard as maybe the worst superstar in sports. During this morning’s First Take, Smith expressed his annoyance at Leonard’s continuous availability problems and how they are affecting his team, the Los Angeles Clippers. he said, “This is the worst superstar. The word superstar is applicable here because he is a superstar when healthy on the basketball court this is not a conversation about his ability when healthy. He is a two-time champion, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, the brother is a big-time basketball player.”

Smith continued, “This is the worst superstar. I can make a case this is the worst superstar in the history of sports. He is a nightmare. You’re talking about the first four years of his time with the Clippers. He’s averaged 40.3 games a season. He played 68 games this past year and then again he wasn’t available to play.” Stephen A. Smith solidified his take, saying, “Do you know that Kawhi Leonard hasn’t been available for 15 of the last 19 Clippers playoff games? Do you know that the year that they went to the conference finals, which by the way was without him because he got hurt before they got to the conference finals, do you know they haven’t won a playoff series since?”

Stephen A Smith Calls Out Kawhi Leonard

Stephen A. Smith continued his rant against Kawhi Leonard, saying, “First, let me confess, I’m kind of jealous. I’m kind of jealous, Jay, because somehow, some way, no matter what his lack of availability is, don’t you notice how that’s never the issue come negotiating time?” He then calls out the timing of Kawhi’s availability. he continued, “Right around the time. It’s time to negotiate the brother available. Right around the time to get his money he’s on the court. Right around the time to solve it, to get his money. I mean, you see him in a clip of uniform. All right. But then the second the man get his money, you got an APB out for him and you can’t find the man.”

Smith made it clear that Leonard’s skills on the court were not the focus of his criticism. The main focus of Smith’s argument is Leonard’s persistent lack of availability and involvement off the court. Leonard’s season average during his first four years with the Clippers was a mere 40.3 games. Leonard has missed fifteen of the last nineteen Clippers playoff games, Smith said. Overall, Stephen A. Smith has had it with the Kawhi Leonard talk.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kawhi Leonard Inks Three-Year, $153M Extension with Clippers

January 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Back up the Brinks truck to the home of Kawhi Leonard. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Clippers star forward has inked a new three-year, $153 million contract extension with the team.

The new deal will pay Leonard $52 million in the first year and $50 million annually over the following two years. There is no player option included in the deal.

Leonard had until June 30 to sign an extension with a $8.7 million player option for the season. Leonard averaged 23.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the season while retaining his health.

“We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with Kawhi,” Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, said in a statement. “He is an elite player, a terrific partner and a relentless worker who knows how to win and makes it his first priority. He elevated our franchise from the moment he arrived. We feel fortunate that Kawhi chose to join the Clippers five years ago, and excited to keep building with him.”

Leonard will now be the face of the organization as they head into their new arena for next season.

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Gregg Popovich Defends Kawhi Leonard As Spurs Fans Boo Clippers Star

November 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Gregg Popovich actively defended his former star Kawhi Leonard when Spurs fans booed the Clipper during a free throw attempt. Popovich addressed the crowd via a microphone on the scorer’s table towards the end of the second quarter. “Excuse me for a second. Can we stop all the booing and let these guys play? Have a little class. That’s not who we are. Knock off the booing,” the veteran coach said to the crowd. After the game, Popovich explained his actions as not wanting to “poke the bear”. “I think anybody that knows anything about sports — you don’t poke the bear,” Popovich said.

However, the boos only increased after Popovich’s address. Despite this, Leonard put up a game-high 26 points, 18 of which came after Popovich’s comments. Leonard has long been booed due to his less-than-amicable exit from San Antonio in 2018. “If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on, they’re probably going to boo me the rest of my career. But I mean it is what it is. Like I said, they’re one of the best fans in the league and they’re very competitive. Once I step out on this basketball court out here, they show that they’re going for the other side. When I’m on the streets or going into restaurants, they show love. So it is what it is,” Leonard said after the game.

Clippers Finally Find Their Footing

Wow. #Spurs HC Gregg Popovich just grabbed the arena microphone with Kawhi Leonard at the free throw line, and asked the crowd to stop booing.

Fans have been booing Leonard, who asked to be traded from San Antonio, on every touch.

Not sure I’ve seen that in an NBA game. pic.twitter.com/PHk3yD2IHG

— Nate Ryan (@nateryansports) November 23, 2023

The 109-102 result over the Spurs, in which Victor Wembanyama put up a 22-point double-double, was the Clippers’ third consecutive win. That streak snapped a dismal 0-6 run that began James Harden’s tenure in LA. Granted, all three wins have come against lottery teams in the Rockets and Spurs. However, it’s a much-needed bounce-back that has the Clippers one game under .500 and two games back in their division.

Despite this, the real test looms for the Clippers. They end November with games against New Orleans, Dallas, Denver, Sacramento, and Golden State. That’s a mix of strong playoff contenders and seasoned rosters. As mentioned, it will be the first major test of whether the Clippers’ new-look roster has finally found its footing. Things do look promising. Despite his “I am a system” comments, Harden has settled into a facilitator role similar to the one he held in Philly. He currently leads the Clippers in assists, while Paul George and Leonard remain the primary scoring options.

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Kawhi Leonard Credits WNBA With Adding New Technique To His Game

October 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Kawhi Leonard went out of his way to credit the WNBA with him teaching him a new technique to improve his game. During the Clippers’ season opener, Leonard was spotted employing the “step-through” on several occasions. The move involves using the pivot foot to step around the defender during a basket drive. It was popularized and perfected by athletes in the WNBA and Leonard was sure to mention that when asked. “A lot of WNBA players do it. I thought it was just a WNBA rule at first, but I realized that you could pick up that back foot,” Leonard said at the Clippers’ post-game presser.

The move has become a signature for the likes of DeWanna Bonner of the Connecticut Sun and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces. Leonard went 23-5-6 in the Clippers 123-111 win over the Blazers. The Clippers next play the Jazz later today.

Aces Win WNBA Title, First Repeat In 21 Years

The aforementioned Wilson made extensive use of the step-through during the recent WNBA Finals. The Aces secured their second WNBA title in as many seasons with a 70-69 Game 4 victory. After a double-digit loss in Game 3, the Aces bounced back to take a one-point win in front of a hostile and sold-out New York home crowd. A’ja Wilson had a game-high 24 points as injuries to key starters limited the Aces’ dominance but did not relegate them to silver scrapes. With the win, the Aces became the first team since the 2002 Los Angeles Sparks to win back-to-back titles. They were also the first defending champions to even make the Finals since the Sparks in 2017.

“This one’s sweeter. It just is. It’s harder to do,” head coach Becky Hammon said after the game. “This is what it’s all about, to have your name etched in history right now with other teams. We never gave up, and this is a moment that we need to celebrate. This is a moment that not a lot of people get a chance to do it, and for us to do it shorthanded, it is truly amazing. It just makes winning that much better,” Wilson, who was named Finals MVP, added.

[via]

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Kawhi Leonard Net Worth 2023: What Is The NBA Star Worth?

September 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Kawhi Leonard, a name that resonates with basketball enthusiasts worldwide, has made significant strides in the NBA. As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But how did Leonard amass such wealth, and what factors have contributed to his financial success?

Born on June 29, 1991, in Los Angeles, California, Kawhi Leonard’s life was not without its challenges. The youngest of five children, he faced a personal tragedy early on when his father was tragically murdered. Despite the adversities, Leonard’s passion for basketball remained undeterred. Leonard’s high school years saw him transfer from Canyon Springs High School to Martin Luther King High School. His senior year performances alongside teammate Tony Shell earned him recognition as a 4-star recruit. By 2009, he was ranked as the 48th-best player in the nation.

Read More: What Is LeBron James’ Net Worth?

College And Early NBA Career

Leonard’s college career at San Diego State Aztecs was marked by achievements. In his sophomore year, he led the Aztecs to their second consecutive conference championship. However, after a promising run, they were defeated by UConn in the NCAA tournament’s round of 16.

Choosing to leave college after his sophomore year, Leonard was drafted by the Indiana Pacers but was soon traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Under the guidance of the legendary coach Gregg Popovich, Leonard’s NBA journey truly began.

Achievements And Accolades

During his tenure with the Spurs from 2011 to 2018, Leonard garnered numerous accolades. Notably, he was named the NBA Finals MVP and clinched the NBA Championship. His unique style of play earned him the nickname “The Klaw.” Moreover, his defensive prowess saw him win the Defensive Player of the Year title in both 2015 and 2016.

In 2018, Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors. His leadership and skill were instrumental in leading the Raptors to their first NBA title in 2019, earning him his second Finals MVP award. Following this, Leonard returned to his hometown, joining the LA Clippers in July 2019.

Financial Milestones

Leonard’s financial success is not solely from his NBA salary. His endorsement deals add millions to his earnings annually. In his first decade in the NBA, Leonard earned a staggering $150 million in salary alone.

His contracts have seen significant jumps over the years. In 2015, he signed a 5-year contract with the Spurs worth $90 million. Later, in 2019, Leonard’s contract with the LA Clippers was a three-year deal amounting to over $103 million.

Real Estate Investments

Apart from his earnings on the court and through endorsements, Leonard has made significant investments in real estate. In 2019, he purchased a home in Rancho Santa Fe, California, for $13.3 million. He also owns properties in LA’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood and a condo in downtown Los Angeles.

Conclusion

Kawhi Leonard’s journey from a young boy in Los Angeles to an NBA superstar is nothing short of inspirational. His dedication, skill, and strategic financial decisions have culminated in a net worth of $80 million in 2023. As he continues to play and invest, there’s no doubt that Leonard’s star will only shine brighter in the years to come.

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Drake Incessantly Trolled Sixers Owner During 2019 NBA Playoffs

June 29, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The 2019 NBA playoffs saw the Toronto Raptors win their first-ever title behind first-year head coach Nick Nurse and league superstar Kawhi Leonard. Their title run was full of memorable moments, including Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce rimshot buzzer-beater to sink the Sixers in the second round. The Raptors would eventually win the title with a 4-2 series win over the Golden State Warriors.

Meanwhile, Drake became a persistent figure on the sidelines, cheering on his hometown team. Drake has an interesting history with Toronto sports. A string of failures by teams from the Canadian city, often after Drake was in attendance or shoutout the team, has led fans to declare the rapper to be cursed. However, not only did the Raptors win the 2019 title, but Drake also tormented a then-owner of the Sixers with some masterful trolling.

Drake Had “No Chill” After Game 7 Buzzer-Beater

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Appearing on the All The Smoke podcast, Michael Rubin, who owned a stake in the Sixers between 2011 and 2022, revealed just how much Drake had trolled him. “My worst memory of Drake is in the middle of Game 7 of the playoffs, he sends me a picture of himself wearing Sixers shorts. He said, ‘I’m coming for you,’” Rubin recalled. “As soon as I saw him in Sixers shorts, I said, ‘We’re losing this fucking game.’ That jinx-ass muthafucka. Just put on these shorts and I knew it was a wrap.” Rubin was right, of course, as Kawhi Leonard ended the game with the aforementioned four-bounce buzzer-beater. However, Drake was not done with Rubin.

“By the way, I’ve never seen someone FaceTime me more times and me ignore him more than after that game. He had no chill. We had just lost [to Kawhi’s shot] and he FaceTimed every two seconds. I just never picked up. I just went home depressed.” The pair apparently quickly reconciled, with TMZ spotting them gambling in The Bahamas after the Finals. However, Drake would also go on to reference Rubin in “When To Say When” on Dark Lane Demo Tapes. “I watched Michael Rubin win a million off a couple hands/ I decide what to see next like it’s on demand/ I decide what to be next like I’m switchin’ plans/ I’ma tell you what you feel next like the weatherman.”

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kawhi Leonard Enters NBA Offseason with Torn Meniscus

April 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Kawhi Leonard mysteriously exited the Los Angeles Clippers first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. We now know he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee.

According to ESPN, the team and Leonard will head into the offseason developing a treatment plan. The injury occurred in Game 1 of the series and was originally believed to be a right knee sprain. Leonard played through the injury in Game 2.

ESPN also notes this is the second injury to Leonard’s knee in two of the last three playoffs. He had a partial tear in his right ACL during the 2021 Western Conference Finals.

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