Despite media linking Kawhi Leonard with the Lakers prior to him joining the Clippers, he did not actually prefer the Lakers when deciding on his future.
Speaking to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes the new Clippers star and a Riverside, California, native revealed that he was never a fan of the Lakers.
“Y’all kept saying that me and Paul’s favorite team growing up was the Lakers. I’m not going to say [Yahoo Sports], but whatever media outlet was out there saying that Kawhi prefers the Lakers over the Clippers, or Paul loves the Lakers, was wrong,” said Leonard.
“I wasn’t a fan of the Lakers growing up. Not saying that’s why I didn’t choose them, but that’s not what it is. I wasn’t a fan of them, and [Paul] just told you guys he was a Clippers fan.”
“If they didn’t want to wait for me, they didn’t have to. They had a big opportunity to sign me. [The Lakers] were close, but I ended up on the other side.”
