The rivalry between LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard has been heavily noted throughout the 2019-20 season.
Now, a recent installment of that rivalry has been logged.
Thanks to a post on social media, the reason why Leonard declined an invitation to attend the LeBron James Skills Academy in 2008 has been revealed.
At the time of the 2008 skills camp, Leonard was still just a promising youngster. Still, it seems his approach to basketball and competitiveness was the same as it is now.
Throughout the 2019-20 season, Leonard has taken slight shots at James.
One of the most pronounced examples came in early January, when Leonard reportedly told people top tell James to “stop being scared to guard [him].”
No doubt, there is good reason for the competitiveness.
Prior to the stoppage of play, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers seemed to be on a crash course to face off against each other in the Western Conference Finals.
Clearly, if that matchup does end up taking place, Leonard and James will be at center stage.
An argument can be made that James and Leonard are the two most impactful players in the NBA right now.
So far this season, Leonard has averaged 26.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. James has averaged 25.7 points, 10.6 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two players right now is their respective team’s records. While James has led the Lakers to a 49-14 record on the year, Leonard has the Clippers at just 44-20 on the season.
Hopefully, the season is able to start up again in the near future. No matter what team fans are rooting for, the possibility of the two superstars facing each another in the playoffs is an incredibly exciting prospect.
