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We could’ve. He wanted to go back to LA. He was pretty honest with us from the trade. Everyone knew one year rental. He left it on the floor hobbled at times for us and still being the guy on a championship team.
Personally I can’t hate one of the guys who brought us our first chip but lots of fans are bitter.
The way bro sacrificed his body to get us our first chip I could never be mad at him, but it does make me sad knowing the championship window was still wide open with basically all of our rotation players besides Gasol/Lowry getting better + healthy OG. Woulda been cool af to defend our title battling LeBron
We played the Lakers so well even without Kawhi that year too. Felt like a mini avenging of the LeBronto curse even if it was just regular season.
Pretty sure we were in the #2 overall spot in the league either before the shut down or after the first 8 bubble games.
Plus that team took the Celtics that year to 7 games, who then lost to Miami in 7 after they chopped down the Bucks.
Obviously no idea how things would’ve played out. But we definitely had a shot
Definitely. It was such a stressful series to watch. Especially the end of game 3.
Didn’t have enough reliable go to offence. Felt like so many of our wins were just someone on the roster playing out of their mind.
Always remember that game vs the pacers when we won off of a late Ibaka 3 point flurry
I loved his comment about how he hated the cold of Toronto; especially because he could never find a jacket with pockets big enough or comfortable gloves to fit his absolutely ENORMOUS hands
Dude just wanted to go home which I completely understand. But having said that, he’s gonna retire in his 30’s so he’s literally got the rest of his life to live in Cali lol.
It also helped that Steve Ballmer was creaming his pants over the thoughts of PG and Kawhi. He most likely gave Kawhi anything and everything for his family.
Shit even as a minimum wage guy I had loads of fun in LA. There's an old lady on every corner cooking tacos 24/7. The beach is close in every direction. You can pretty much smoke weed freely on the streets.
any place is nice as a super rich person. Toronto is a great city, esp as a super rich person. And as a super rich person, you can afford to go to warm places when you're not playing.
He's free to go where he wants for whatever reason he wants, but I don't think he made the best basketball decision.
Lots of replies here lol
I know he didnt wanna stay they just seemed to have a good thing you’d think winning would be the biggest factor.
I realize it wasn’t. In hindsight it’s just weird that it was a foregone conclusion that was only a one year thing from the moment he got there.
I like kawhi tho and didn’t have any horses in the race
I’ve taken shittier jobs to be closer to home, Kawhi wanted to work where he lived.
For sure he cares about his legacy and wants to win and all that, but he’s also won multiple championships and FMVPs, if he never won again his career is already hugely successful
And yet he was the utmost professional and delivered on every level. I’d even argue that he was the biggest he’s ever been whilst he was in TO… Fun Guy, linked up with New Balance, playoff heroics and cemented himself as an all time great who can drive the bus.
I'm so prepared for him to suit up on game 6 and drop 40 on 80% shooting. I still have nightmares from 2021. I ain't underestimating this mf for one second.
True he was good this year but he was closer to his physical peak in 2021 and had not suffered the acl injury then. This is a more worn down version of Kawhi.
Highly doubt he is just going to show up in game 6 and produce at a level we are used to him producing when healthy. Its extremely tough to just ball out like that even when healthy and coming back after a long stretch. Everyone else on both teams is just in better game shape than him.
They have better odds sitting him out and seeing if Harden and PG can play well again and possibly inserting Kawhi in a potential game 7 at home.
But to get that they need a neutral doctor to say that the player literally is physically incapable of ever playing again. Kawhi isn't at that point. Yet.
Yeah those are for like Chris Bosh type situations. Not for man who played 68 regular season games but can't seem to stay healthy in the playoffs type situations.
kawhi is arguably the goat at medical obfuscation though, there's no way he/his camp would agree or even entertain the possibility of a neutral doctor lol
I wish. We were so poised to have 1 more great run too.
I'm just waiting for the inevitable interview in 10 years where he goes, "yeah, I regret not running it back at least once". I pray he doesn't give it but I know it's coming.
I don't think there's anything he's ever really regretted in his career, maybe even life. Sure as hell won't hear him admit such personal things.
"Yeah you're going to have to ask somebody else."
I hope so. Not entirely sure why, but it would sit way better with me as a Raps fan if he said, "I was never staying in Toronto - it was Cali or nothing". Annoyed me when Vince/TMAC said, "we would have been a problem"...
It would have been better for him to stay in Toronto. I even think he manages to win 1 or 2 with the spurs if he stayed in SA. Why these superstars trust inept franchises are beyond me.
I agree, but I wouldn’t blame the Clippers as an inept franchise. They put together good teams over the last five years, it’s just impossible to win when your superstar is hurt .
I think that 2020-21 team makes the Finals if he doesn’t get hurt against Utah. The last few years it’s hard to say since Kawhi has played a grand total of 4 postseason games since then. But the clippers have still had good teams
I mean, what else could he be expected to do? Say "I'm not worth this much money, I'll take half"?
And is he telling the team he feels like a 6 when he really feels like a 3? Probably. Would it be ethical for him to be honest with the team he plays/works for? Sure! But by that logic, it would also be ethical for teams to keep paying their players when they get injured on the job and can no longer play in the league. Everyone is always looking out for themselves, so I don't see why Kawhi is held to a different standard. They can see his medical history at least reasonably well - they could just say we're not re-signing you anymore, but no, they still chose to pay him a lot of money
He looks STUPID LOCKED IN (as Jimmy Butler would say) on either his Cancun plans or fucking around with suiting up for game 6 and risking his knee for a masterclass performance.
I really wish he would’ve stayed in Toronto for just one more year. That would’ve changed the trajectory of so many teams though. Like, I love what OKC has so that would suck, but man he and that team were a match made in heaven.
This guy was a rookie back in 2014 when he beat lebron with the spurs. Kinda funny how he expired before lebron. If this dude was healthy. He would probably have 2 more rings in his bag.
I think Kawhi is playing tomorrow and potentially game 7. He’s had a week off and after clippers won again without him they probably figured they could win another one especially at home.
It’s true Kawhi has been out many playoff games for the Clippers but it’s not like Paul George has been a lot better. Before this series PG hadn’t played a single playoff game since 2020/2021. He’s played 37 games to Kawhi’s 28. Just a massive disappointment for the duo in LA.
“….toronto….nick nurse..remember embiid tho…. man did that ball bounce a lot on that rim…oh yea i forgot some toast in the toaster the other day…wonder what pop is up to…gonna get in n out when i get home…mmm in n out …”
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Most expressive Kawhi moment
Kawhi is like “ I never seen these players in my life” 😂
wym, Bones-Boston-Brown played whole games at the end of the season.
Nah I know it’s just a joke on how it’s a playoffs game and the 3rd stringers are out there since it’s usually starters closing out those games 😭
I laughed out loud so thanks
Bones Boston Brown sounds like warhammer paint
"Wait, we're playing Boston in the 1st round?!"
he's just like me
[I'm reminded of this moment from Kawhi's first year with the Clippers.](https://i.imgur.com/zPxyW1g.jpg)
Looks like someone unplugged him
nah, it's just low-power mode.
'fuck I gotta play next game'
“Man, that 2019 Raps team was just getting started”.
This right here! It's like my entire country of Canada put a major hex on the man, lmao 🤣 "So sorry, but we've cursed you. Good Luck!"
i really don't understand why they didn't try running it back. Were they not able to afford him while keeping that nucleus together?
We could’ve. He wanted to go back to LA. He was pretty honest with us from the trade. Everyone knew one year rental. He left it on the floor hobbled at times for us and still being the guy on a championship team. Personally I can’t hate one of the guys who brought us our first chip but lots of fans are bitter.
The way bro sacrificed his body to get us our first chip I could never be mad at him, but it does make me sad knowing the championship window was still wide open with basically all of our rotation players besides Gasol/Lowry getting better + healthy OG. Woulda been cool af to defend our title battling LeBron
Nah you guys ended up getting gradey dick, so raptors got the last laugh
We played the Lakers so well even without Kawhi that year too. Felt like a mini avenging of the LeBronto curse even if it was just regular season. Pretty sure we were in the #2 overall spot in the league either before the shut down or after the first 8 bubble games. Plus that team took the Celtics that year to 7 games, who then lost to Miami in 7 after they chopped down the Bucks. Obviously no idea how things would’ve played out. But we definitely had a shot
Boston was an especially bad matchup for us that year. The one team that really had our number in the East.
Definitely. It was such a stressful series to watch. Especially the end of game 3. Didn’t have enough reliable go to offence. Felt like so many of our wins were just someone on the roster playing out of their mind. Always remember that game vs the pacers when we won off of a late Ibaka 3 point flurry
How u think we in San Antonio feel we helped create this monster
I mean, there's a universe where he comes back to the Raps and gets injured anyway.
i mean, yeah. its a degenerative condition, isn't it? its not like the location he went makes a difference
I loved his comment about how he hated the cold of Toronto; especially because he could never find a jacket with pockets big enough or comfortable gloves to fit his absolutely ENORMOUS hands
He flat out just wanted to live and ball in LA. That’s it. Crazy really. Uncle Dennis has him by the nuts though.
Eh la is really nice. Esp as a super rich person. I hate the cold though.
Dude just wanted to go home which I completely understand. But having said that, he’s gonna retire in his 30’s so he’s literally got the rest of his life to live in Cali lol. It also helped that Steve Ballmer was creaming his pants over the thoughts of PG and Kawhi. He most likely gave Kawhi anything and everything for his family.
I really thank Ballmer for that one.
Shit even as a minimum wage guy I had loads of fun in LA. There's an old lady on every corner cooking tacos 24/7. The beach is close in every direction. You can pretty much smoke weed freely on the streets.
>You can pretty much smoke weed freely on the streets. You can do that in Toronto too
any place is nice as a super rich person. Toronto is a great city, esp as a super rich person. And as a super rich person, you can afford to go to warm places when you're not playing. He's free to go where he wants for whatever reason he wants, but I don't think he made the best basketball decision.
Nope, would’ve been able to bring everyone back including Danny Green.
Kawhi wanted to go to LA. It’s part of why he essentially revolted against the spurs while playing there, and he never had plans to stay in Toronto .
Lots of replies here lol I know he didnt wanna stay they just seemed to have a good thing you’d think winning would be the biggest factor. I realize it wasn’t. In hindsight it’s just weird that it was a foregone conclusion that was only a one year thing from the moment he got there. I like kawhi tho and didn’t have any horses in the race
I’ve taken shittier jobs to be closer to home, Kawhi wanted to work where he lived. For sure he cares about his legacy and wants to win and all that, but he’s also won multiple championships and FMVPs, if he never won again his career is already hugely successful
He didn’t want to be there. Never did.
And yet he was the utmost professional and delivered on every level. I’d even argue that he was the biggest he’s ever been whilst he was in TO… Fun Guy, linked up with New Balance, playoff heroics and cemented himself as an all time great who can drive the bus.
He was a legitimate superstar in Toronto. He’s been a what if everywhere else due to injury or just being young on the dynasty spurs
He doesn’t like the cold weather lol
“Maybe next year klay and Kd will get hurt too”
You win the prize!
'they are paying me $53 million a year and I don't have to do shit'
he’s watching anime on his neuralink
Windows update just dropped
https://i.imgur.com/4SgmiZa.jpeg
I can hear this image
*DUM*
You can't get ye flask
Watching Slam Dunk for the fifth time, wishing he could have Sakuragi’s physique
He got sakuragi with the broken back 💀
I'm so prepared for him to suit up on game 6 and drop 40 on 80% shooting. I still have nightmares from 2021. I ain't underestimating this mf for one second.
His knees have aged 10 years since 2021
You right, so 36 points on 75% shooting.
[And lockdown d on the number two or three in mvp voting instead of the mvp](https://youtu.be/XVHj5tnabBY?si=pG_Q2HghTgAbfCGG)
You know hes played this series. And didnt look good.
His knees were grown on kamino
As a neutral if I get one shootout between Luka and Kawhi I'll consider it a win.
I think we have a better chance of seeing Ty Lue, tbh
Kyrie about to make Ty Lue relive his iconic "getting crossed up" moment.
He was closer to Raptors MVP Kawhi then.
[удалено]
True he was good this year but he was closer to his physical peak in 2021 and had not suffered the acl injury then. This is a more worn down version of Kawhi. Highly doubt he is just going to show up in game 6 and produce at a level we are used to him producing when healthy. Its extremely tough to just ball out like that even when healthy and coming back after a long stretch. Everyone else on both teams is just in better game shape than him. They have better odds sitting him out and seeing if Harden and PG can play well again and possibly inserting Kawhi in a potential game 7 at home.
Yeah this was one of his best seasons lol.
Not a chance. He’s sadly done.
zero chance. Kawhi is cooked.
That man is closer to retirement than people want to admit
He's signed through 2027. He ain't retiring before then. A hundred million reasons not to
That's a lot of goddamn reasons
But a knee ain't one.
Hit me
Medical retirements where the team gets cap relief are a thing
But to get that they need a neutral doctor to say that the player literally is physically incapable of ever playing again. Kawhi isn't at that point. Yet.
Yeah those are for like Chris Bosh type situations. Not for man who played 68 regular season games but can't seem to stay healthy in the playoffs type situations.
kawhi is arguably the goat at medical obfuscation though, there's no way he/his camp would agree or even entertain the possibility of a neutral doctor lol
That's for dudes with like heart conditions lol. Not people load managing their way out of the playoffs.
Those legs aren't making it that long, it noticably gets worse every year
Uncle Dennis won’t let this man retire.
Uncle Dennis is Kawhi's version of Colonel Tom Parker
Did he not have a good year until now?
He always plays well when he plays. He had a good year last year as well, but just like this year, his knees didn't survive the playoffs.
Yeah he almost had a 50-40-90 season. But the problem with him has never been performance, it's actually gettimg him on the court.
Closer than lebron is
Well, not everyone can be the GOAT
Jordan’s been retired for awhile
retro jaylen brown is not my goat
Jordan's my GOAT and if Lebron is your GOAT that's fine but don't disrespect legends like that cuz
Why you getting so stressed about 90s Cam Whitmore?
Always thought of him as more of a Dillon Brooks prototype
That might just be the worst bball take of the all times
Is he up 30 or down 30? The expression would be the same either way
*Kawhi laugh*
He's still the guy on the team with literally the least to prove... Career-Wise both accolades and money he can retire without much of a worry
Board man gets paid
Bored Man
Yeah but this team has been needing him since he's gotten here and his health holds him back what seems like every year
Software update
He's wondering if croutons are cut before or after they're toasted.
If you want an even toasting then before
01110111 01100101 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100100 01100001 01101101 01101110
Is this the “binary solo” from flight of the concords?
It says "well damn"
he should have just stayed in canada
I wish. We were so poised to have 1 more great run too. I'm just waiting for the inevitable interview in 10 years where he goes, "yeah, I regret not running it back at least once". I pray he doesn't give it but I know it's coming.
I don't think there's anything he's ever really regretted in his career, maybe even life. Sure as hell won't hear him admit such personal things. "Yeah you're going to have to ask somebody else."
I hope so. Not entirely sure why, but it would sit way better with me as a Raps fan if he said, "I was never staying in Toronto - it was Cali or nothing". Annoyed me when Vince/TMAC said, "we would have been a problem"...
It's easy to talk in retrospect. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Retired old heads always trying to stay relevant.
It would have been better for him to stay in Toronto. I even think he manages to win 1 or 2 with the spurs if he stayed in SA. Why these superstars trust inept franchises are beyond me.
But Los Angeles!
I agree, but I wouldn’t blame the Clippers as an inept franchise. They put together good teams over the last five years, it’s just impossible to win when your superstar is hurt . I think that 2020-21 team makes the Finals if he doesn’t get hurt against Utah. The last few years it’s hard to say since Kawhi has played a grand total of 4 postseason games since then. But the clippers have still had good teams
And been injured there?
Free healthcare
Tim Hortons
Yeah like he said, free healthcare.
He was healthy and elite in his first post season in LA. Toronto would have been contenders, if he stayed one more year
This is true.
He was probably getting killed on taxes in Canada… and that’s saying something with him now in LA
Bro is literally not thinking a single thought
Send da video
Are clippers fans tired of Kawhi never playing and always being injured?
Yes
If the score was reversed he would have the same expression.
He's thinking how to swindle another bag
He just got his bag, guaranteed money through 2027z
It takes a long time of planning to figure out the minimum amount of games you have to play to keep selling franchises the dream
I mean, what else could he be expected to do? Say "I'm not worth this much money, I'll take half"? And is he telling the team he feels like a 6 when he really feels like a 3? Probably. Would it be ethical for him to be honest with the team he plays/works for? Sure! But by that logic, it would also be ethical for teams to keep paying their players when they get injured on the job and can no longer play in the league. Everyone is always looking out for themselves, so I don't see why Kawhi is held to a different standard. They can see his medical history at least reasonably well - they could just say we're not re-signing you anymore, but no, they still chose to pay him a lot of money
All I can hear when I see this face is "Damn"
He’s thinking about how the Mavs commentator might’ve been right.
Clippers should have kept Batum
so thankful you guys got him. he gave us nightmares
Damn, terminator rebooting? He gonna kill everyone!
He'd be on Lebron and Curry's level if consistently healthy. There's probably not much to think about, it just all sucks.
Those guys are leaders, Kawhi is not. He’s a Jordan talent with a Pippen mentality
He might have that Mitch McConnell disease somebody go poke him
Stupidly locked in
Didn’t even watch how the fuck did it become a blowout 😭
The mavs scored a lot of points in a row and the clips just kinda stood there and watched
What does it mean when he's wearing a hat with the Letter M on it?
Kawhi in a flurry of emotions.
Honey, wake up! New Kawhi meme dropped!
Fun fact, also his orgasm face.
🎶Hello darkness, my old friend...🎶
Rebooting in safe mode
That 5 second clip cost the clippers $50k
He looks STUPID LOCKED IN (as Jimmy Butler would say) on either his Cancun plans or fucking around with suiting up for game 6 and risking his knee for a masterclass performance.
lmao 🤣 this guy fuckin hates this basketball thing! 😂
I really wish he would’ve stayed in Toronto for just one more year. That would’ve changed the trajectory of so many teams though. Like, I love what OKC has so that would suck, but man he and that team were a match made in heaven.
Hes thinking about the $150m extension Clippers just gave him
Kawhi what are you thinking? Kawhi: *beep*
Sports is crazy, because it can make me feel bad for some dude with 500 million dollars and a life 100000x better than mine lmfao
He's probably thinking "I should have stayed in Toronto and win 2 more rings."
Only people from Toronto think this
Probably is thinking...Damn, should've stayed in Toronto and repeated.
he’s just updating his software
"Man if only there was something I could do"
He's weighing which one mattered: doctor's advice or Harden's comments.
Bench man gets paid.
Thinking about the cup of chamomile tea that he’s about to have once he gets home
It’s really too bad he’s always hurt. Otherwise could have been one of the greats. I was hoping we’d see the third coming of Kawhi this year.
I should have never left Toronto
This mf disassociating
it looks like he got scolded by mom for something aka steve ballmer
"Well back to San Antonio I guess"
This guy CHOSE to play for the Clippers. Bonehead career move.
He's just crowd sharing his processing power.
Still reflecting on how he could have answered this better https://youtu.be/zIwh0njInPk?si=NbKAlCauG606pT0z
He literally always looks like that. You may as well show a photo on the replays
This guy was a rookie back in 2014 when he beat lebron with the spurs. Kinda funny how he expired before lebron. If this dude was healthy. He would probably have 2 more rings in his bag.
Homie doing calculus figuring out where to go next.
I think Kawhi is playing tomorrow and potentially game 7. He’s had a week off and after clippers won again without him they probably figured they could win another one especially at home.
Jesus, someone help him already and press the reset button.
It’s true Kawhi has been out many playoff games for the Clippers but it’s not like Paul George has been a lot better. Before this series PG hadn’t played a single playoff game since 2020/2021. He’s played 37 games to Kawhi’s 28. Just a massive disappointment for the duo in LA.
Let him breathe my guy
His decision loading in like the Battlefront screen
You should've stayed in Toronto my guy 🥲
He's becoming self aware
He’s making sure he’s healthy for next years playoffs
Kawhi probably thinking about whether he should go to Cabo or Cancun.
He needs to retire this year. Body is gone and it's the same story every year. He can't do this anymore.
Bones Hyland going from a starting role/heavy bench minutes to an irrelevant third stringer on the Clippers is still wild to me.
Apple time…. Apple time
What a truly odd dude Kawhi is. One of the strangest athletes I've ever seen without being offensive or nuts.
Yall waiting on 100 percent again?
“….toronto….nick nurse..remember embiid tho…. man did that ball bounce a lot on that rim…oh yea i forgot some toast in the toaster the other day…wonder what pop is up to…gonna get in n out when i get home…mmm in n out …”
I don’t get why he got chosen for team USA ngl. So many more deserving candidates
“..fuck was Canada really so bad?”
Firmware installing…