Eddie Johnson: Kawhi Leonard won’t be a first-ballot Hall of Famer

Former NBA player Eddie Johnson believes Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors could face a lengthy wait before eventually being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Johnson argued that Leonard’s accomplishments may not be enough to make him a first-ballot selection, predicting that voters could deliberately delay his induction for several years.

“When he retires, he will not get in there the first or second time. I just truly believe that they’re gonna blackball him for about three or four years before he gets voted in. He’ll eventually get in, but I think they’re gonna make him sweat.

“It’s not gonna be cut and dry, and it’s gonna show when guys that he played with get in before he does. That’s gonna be the message sent to Kawhi, and rightly so.”