Before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, news emerged that Kristaps Porzingis, a key player for the Boston Celtics, had sustained a rare leg injury that would sideline him. This setback was particularly harsh for Porzingis, who had already missed much of the playoffs leading up to the Finals. Despite this, he managed to return to the court during Game 5, where the Celtics secured their series victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
During a segment on NBA Countdown discussing Porzingis’ injury, Stephen A. Smith, known for his critiques of players’ health and performance, took a jab at Kawhi Leonard while Paul George, the guest player on set, chuckled and responded. George later elaborated on this incident during a recent episode of “Podcast P.”
“I didn’t appreciate that moment,” George expressed. “I have respect for Stephen A., but I felt it should have been let go. Kawhi wants to play, and I’ll keep emphasizing that. We leaned heavily on Kawhi this season, pushing him to his limits. Eventually, your body reaches its breaking point.”
Leonard appeared in 68 games this season, his highest count since 2016-17 with the San Antonio Spurs, but injuries limited him to just two games in the Clippers’ first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks.
