Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been in the film room, taking notes from a surprising source to help bring his game to new heights: the WNBA.
When you’re an athlete, you’ll take inspiration from anywhere, but often, it’s from another athlete who plays the sport you do. For example, you’ll find the late Kobe Bryant’s fingerprints all over the game of some of the NBA’s best.
Leonard says while he watches a lot of film on himself to break down what he can do better, he credits another league for teaching him things he didn’t realize were possible.
Apologies for not posting this yesterday
I asked Kawhi Leonard yesterday about a move that is quickly becoming a signature for him, where he finds a way to legally pick up his pivot foot.
Kawhi mentioned watching @WNBA players take advantage of the rule and watching his own 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/tWWNdzpyVx
— Law Murray 📱 (@LawMurrayTheNU) October 25, 2023
In a recently posted clip by Law Murray of the Athletic, Leonard gives insight into how one of his moves is quickly becoming a staple for him.
He gives credit to the WNBA for teaching him that picking up his pivot foot is legal on the court when it’s used to step past or through contact.
“I think a lot of WNBA players do it,” Leonard explained. “I thought it was just an NBA rule at first, but like I said, I realized you could pick up that back foot.”
Los Angeles Sparks All-Star Nneka Ogwumike is known around the league for mastering the move, but it was also recently displayed in this year’s WNBA Finals by Finals MVP A’ja Wilson to maneuver past Breanna Stewart.
A'ja oh my…. #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/MQIy5KPqjr
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) October 12, 2023
Game recognizes game.
