“This brother is the king, he's the standard for load management” – NBA analyst craves to see more playing time for Kawhi Leonard, believes the Clippers are the No.1 threat to defending champions

LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is a dominant two-way force when he's on the court. The only problem is that he's also become the face of load management over the years.

The NBA has had a growing problem. Numerous players have jumped at the opportunity to rest and take nights off. This has introduced the concept of load management to fans. It's become an unwanted regularity, as fans travel to see the game's top players before realizing they are out of the lineup.

Going back to his days with the San Antonio Spurs, it hasn't been rare to see Leonard sit out. Numerous veterans have done the same thing as they try to stay fresh during the season.

The time is now for the Clippers, a popular sleeper, to make a title run. If the Clippers are going to be one of the top teams, they will need Leonard on the floor. That's just what analyst Stephen A. Smith believes during a recent segment on ESPN's "First Take."

"I think that the Clippers are the No. 1 threat to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference if Kawhi Leonard is healthy and doesn't exercise load management," Smith said.

"You know, we can talk about all these other players that have missed games, and he had a legitimate injury and I get all of that as to why he was out last year, but this brother is the king, he's the standard for load management.

Smith has continued to reiterate that the Clippers are one of the top threats to the Golden State Warriors this season. Smith was emphatic with his talk about how Kawhi Leonard cannot rely upon load management. Despite praising Kawhi's ability, Smith said:

"This brother, he gets paid more than he plays. That's just the reality. Now, when he plays, he's big time. He's a star on the elite level. He's a two-time champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP. He is something special. But I mean, my God, he's another dude that needs to show up to work a bit more.

"And so it's really great to know that he's going to be back. And I sincerely hope we get to see Kawhi Leonard all season long, because if he's there, the Clippers are obviously a legitimate top three title contender in the West."

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Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers look to send a message to the NBA

LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers are heading into the season with some buzz. After a strong offseason, the Clippers have become a popular pick to make a run at a championship. Leonard missed all of last season while recovering from an ACL injury.

While many thought that Los Angeles would have been a team that coasted last year, the organization had other plans. The front office had their eyes on the upcoming season. The Clippers went out and acquired Norman Powell and Robert Covington to build out their roster.

Veteran point guard John Wall was also signed as a free agent this offseason, giving the team an impressive amount of depth. With Leonard and star Paul George back at full health, the sky is the limit. If Kawhi can stay healthy and on the court, the Clippers will be a force in the NBA.