Kawhi Anthony Leonard who is born June 29, 1991, is an American trained basketball professional for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He performed two seasons of college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs and was also given the title of a consensus second-team All-American as a student. Leonard decided to abandon his last two seasons at San Diego State to get through the 2011 NBA draft. He was chosen by the Indiana Pacers with the 15th overall selection before being swapped to the San Antonio Spurs on the night of the draft.
With the Spurs, Leonard obtained an NBA championship in 2014, where he was nominated as the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Following the next seven terms with the Spurs, Leonard was swapped to the Toronto Raptors in 2018. In 2019, he directed the Raptors to their first NBA championship in license history and obtained his second Finals MVP prize. He finally traveled all the way to his hometown of Los Angeles and contracted with the Clippers as an independent operator in July 2019.
Kawhi Leonard Statistics
- Born: June 29, 1991 (age 29)
- Country: Los Angeles, California
- Nationality: American
- Listed height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
- Listed weight: 225 lb (102 kg)
Career History
- 2011–2018: San Antonio Spurs
- 2018–2019: Toronto Raptors
- 2019–present: Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard Awards and Accomplishments
Leonard has been credited with being a four-time All-Star with two All-NBA First Team selections. He is also nicknamed as the "Claw," or "Klaw," for his ball-hawking skills, he has gained six All-Defensive Team picks and obtained the Defensive Player of the Year honors in the years, 2015 and 2016. Here are his lifetime accomplishments:
- 2× NBA champion (2014, 2019)
- 2× NBA Finals MVP (2014, 2019)
- 4× NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (2020)
- 2× All-NBA First Team (2016, 2017)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (2019, 2020)
- 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2015–2017)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014, 2019, 2020)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2012)
- NBA steals leader (2015)
- AP Athlete of the Year (2019)
- Consensus second-team All-American (2011)
- 2× First-team All-MWC (2010, 2011)
- No. 15 retired by San Diego State Aztecs
- California Mr. Basketball (2009)
Kawhi Leonard Workout Routine
Kawhi Anthony Leonard has been so proficient with what he does that he has become to be the league's most amazing shooters and the kind who is feared by all from all over the floor no matter if it is off the dribble or on the catch. No more does he defends at the kind of levels which actually got him the honor of being a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, yet, he is still seldom powerful enough that he can turn a complete playoff series by just initiating to guard basketball's hypothetical MVP.Currently, Kawhi Anthony Leonard handles the point guard which is pretty deceptive and needs talent. He has the kind of wingspan that is normally reserved for the centers and his enormous hands are the material of a cross-cultural saga.
Very clearly, there was not even a single point that would change Kawhi Anthony Leonard's game which had led him to be on the cusp of his second winning of the MVP as he dethrones the two-time defending champions. However, if there has been one distinctive thing about Kawhi Anthony Leonard's game it is his physique that has surprised many of his followers but not the ones who have seen him working hard in the weight room!
Here is a little about his workout routine that he follows consistently to be on the top of his game.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Kawhi Leonard Workout Routine
- The dumbbell bench press as a warm-up of 8 reps, 2 sets
- Twists of 10 reps, 2 sets
- Leg raise of 15-20 reps, 2 sets
- Dumbbell bench presses of 8 reps, 3 sets
- Dumbbell rows of 10 reps with each arm, 3 sets
- Alternating dumbbell curls of 5 reps with each arm, 2 sets
- Hammer curls of 5 reps with each arm, 2 sets
- Dumbbell shrugs of 22-25 reps, 2 sets
- Dumbbell front raise of 15 reps, 2 sets
- Shoulder presses of 10 reps, 3 sets
- Triceps pushdowns of 10 reps, 3 sets
Tuesday, Thursday Kawhi Leonard Workout Routine
- Bicycle crunches of 10-12 reps, 3 sets
- Planks withhold for 60 seconds, 3 sets
- Oblique crunches of 10-12 reps, 3 sets
- Russian twists f 12 reps, 3 sets
- Hanging leg raise of 10 reps, 3 sets
- Weighted sit-ups of 10-12 reps, 3 sets
- Lunges of 12 reps, 3 sets
- Leg raise of 20 reps, 2 sets
- Hamstring leg curls of 12 reps, 3 sets
- Barbell squats of 12 reps, 3 sets
- Inchworms of 10-12 reps, 3 sets
- V-ups of 12 reps, 3 sets
Saturday and Sunday Kawhi Leonard Workout Routine
- Rest
That is all about Kawhi Anthony Leonard's workout routine which he follows each day without a fail. No moving on to how he supports his strength by looking at the kind of diet plan he follows typically in a day.
Kawhi Leonard Diet Plan
Kawhi Anthony Leonard has carved a niche for himself with his absolutely stunning gaming skills and his fit, muscular, and jacked up physique. He is truly a fanatic when it comes to fitness and makes sure that he treats his body well. He has a balanced diet and even exercises regularly. He also makes sure that when he is in the gym, he is exercising pretty intensely.He loves to lift some heavy irons while he is at his gym. He loves to do some amazing core and oblique exercises practically every single day. He also adores the leg day because he feels it is one of the most intense workouts.In many of his interviews, Kawhi Anthony Leonard explains that his diet is pretty simple as he tries for it to be as easily available as it can be. In his words, "I just try to stay away from beef and pork. I'll try to get something like grilled chicken or fish. Something like that with some vegetables," Leonard told in an interview.However, his diet has not always been as healthy as it is now. When he was in college, he had a pretty bad diet because he did not have enough money to buy good quality and organic food. When he joined the NBA, he realized that it needed to change obviously. However, this transition from being a college kid to being a pro athlete was pretty easy for Kawhi Anthony Leonard because his mom supported him with cooking his meals during the rookie year.
He explains the experience by saying, "It was actually pretty easy because I really didn't enjoy eating fast food, especially as I got older," Leonard said. "It just didn't taste good to me. I've always liked home-cooked meals. And my mom moved to San Antonio my rookie year and would cook for me, so it was an easy transition."
Kawhi Anthony Leonard Breakfast Meal
Kawhi Anthony Leonard's breakfast meal usually consists of a protein source which is mainly eggs with some healthy and nutritious veggies like spinach, mushroom, basil, and garlic.
Kawhi Anthony Leonard Mid-morning Snack
Mid-morning snacks for Kawhi Anthony Leonard is pretty easy. He loves to snack on green smoothies which are made by using ingredients such as bananas, spinach, protein powder (his favorite is vanilla flavor), and avocado for some healthy fats.
Kawhi Anthony Leonard Lunch Meal
Kawhi Anthony Leonard is huge on meal prepping. Thus, he makes his salads on the weekend for his weekdays. The salads are usually from the leftover dishes. He loves to add quinoa and beetroot. There are days when he enjoys a Mexican bean salad or just simply roast some veggies.
Kawhi Anthony Leonard Afternoon Snack
If Kawhi Anthony Leonard still feels he need an evening snack, he munches on something healthy. His go-to option to eat is crudités or seaweed or roasted nuts/seeds.
Kawhi Anthony Leonard Dinner Meal
Kawhi Anthony Leonard has a great option for dinner which is some plant-based burgers along with some great sweet potatoes, roasted broccoli loaded with essential spices, and a huge bowl of salad.That is pretty much what Kawhi Anthony Leonard eats in a day.Professional athletes like Kawhi Anthony Leonard do not become top athletes only by an accident. In fact, they need a lot of time, dedication, and focus to reach where they are now. This includes paying a lot of attention to their health and fitness and what they eat. But this superstar who swears on alkaline water has a lot of tips to give when it comes to fitness.
Kawhi Anthony Leonard is a pretty simple man who does not really need much. He is the perfect one to lead a post-Tom Duncan team and also his nominations for the MVP make him ultra special. His diet is pretty simplistic and makes sense which includes grilled chicken, some grilled or sauteed veggies and that's that. He does not complicate his recipes and remembers to drink a lot of water. A huge lot of it. His only problem? Not to rush off for the bathroom during an interview!
It is pretty difficult to be on a diet when you are changing cities. However, Kawhi Anthony Leonard has his tricks ready. He has a personal nutritionist who tells him what food is the best to have. In his own words, "You definitely have to be focused on it, but it’s difficult trying to eat something good for you on the road. We usually have a nutritionist who will let us know what we should eat and what we shouldn’t eat from the hotel menus. She looks all of that over for us throughout the whole year."
This is actually how a local state player became the best two-way player in the league and a potential MVP: dedication, even when you are out of town, is the key! However, he does try to stay away from some particular things like beef and pork. His go-to meal is pretty simple and nothing fancy. He says, "I just try to stay away from beef and pork. I’ll try to get something like grilled chicken or fish. Something like that with some vegetables."
If he needs something quick and if he is out on his way, he would refer to places that sell quick meals but make sure he is choosing the healthiest options. However, he does avoid them as much as he can and eats homemade food most of the time. In his words "I try to go to hole-in-the-wall sandwich places if I do need something quick. Someplace fresh and healthy, like a juice bar. There aren’t really any household names that I go to."
He also does not like going to fancy establishments like the subway even though it is healthy, he rather chooses to go to local ones. For him, the local eateries are better options also because each city or country has its own flavor which is distinctive from the native place. In his words, "Yeah, for sure. You could go to Subway anywhere, even in your own hometown."
In fact, did you know that he does not really follow a very strict diet? He eats healthily most of the time and believes in his instincts. He feels it is the best way to be. He does not like to stick to the same meals every day but changes a lot. The only thing he cares about is the fact that whatever is on his plate is fresh and organic and he is good to go. Quality matters a lot. In his words, "I pretty much keep it free when it comes to that. I don’t eat the same meal or at the same time every single day. You get tired of that real quick. I just try to make sure whatever I’m eating is fresh and clean and good for my body. That’s about it."He also does not get enough time for having breakfast because of his schedule. Even if he gets it, he does not rely on quick fixes like pancakes and other regular breakfast meals that are filled with sugar. He would definitely choose some protein options along with some veggies to accompany them. In his words, "Nah. I rarely eat breakfast because of our schedule, actually. If I do, though, I’ll try to do an egg-white omelet with some bell peppers and mushrooms. Maybe a side of a bunch of different fruits."Kawhi Anthony Leonard is usually pretty busy with his practices and his matches which might burn a lot more energy than it is actually planned. He does have moments when he is having longer seasons which might make him change his diet a bit. It really depends on his energy expenditure. He might even lose some weight during that time but he always tries to manage it. Here's how he does it, "It depends. As the season goes on into the playoffs, sometimes you do lose a little bit more weight. I usually just try to see where my weight is at and either add more vegetables or proteins to my meals to get my weight where I want it to be."
The Spurs are pretty professional and they even provide each player with their own nutritionist and other staff that will assist them with their diet and workouts. For Kawhi Anthony Leonard, he has definitely learned a thing or two about food and nutrition. Having a nutritionist has really changed things for him because he was pretty novice before the NBA. He explains this experience by saying, "You know, there’s definitely a big difference from college into the league. Being in college, you don’t have the money to even get organic foods or eat only organic vegetables, organic drinks. You really just go with what you have in front of you. And the college I was at, we were a mid-major, so we didn’t really have all the perks and stuff like that other teams might have. We ended up eating a lot of fast food. Obviously, the NBA is different. This is a professional job, and they want you to play at your highest level. So I’ve learned a ton being with the Spurs just about basic nutrition."
His transition for the same was not that tough at least how he describes it, "It was actually pretty easy because I really didn’t enjoy eating fast food, especially as I got older. It just didn’t taste good to me. I’ve always liked home-cooked meals. And my mom moved to San Antonio my rookie year and would cook for me, so it was an easy transition."I guess it was all about his mom cooking his meals and being a huge pillar of support for him. He did not even feel like eating out or having fast food with that. In his words, the other advantages that he felt that came along with his mother cooking for him were, "Nothing. Plus, I wanted to better my eating habits before I even got drafted. That summer, there was a lockout, so I had a long time to get everything situated. It was like a four- or five-month wait until I was actually able to be seen by the Spurs. So learning throughout that entire time about good eating habits was a key."It is always a question of how a professional basketball player or in fact any athlete, in general, eats right before his or her competition or game. Some players are pretty superstitious and typical about what goes in their stomach just before a match. Some players even don't eat at all for at least 2 hours before the game. However, others are munching snacks during the warm too. However, Kawhi Anthony Leonard falls right in the middle. Although he does not like to play on a full stomach, he does not curb his hunger to play on an empty stomach. In his words, "I definitely don’t like to eat a lot before I play. I don’t like to play on a full stomach. Sometimes, if I’m feeling hungry before a game, I’ll eat one of those protein bars, but that’s it."A protein bar is the kind of food that will give the players the kind of energy they need without them feeling extremely full. Exactly.
I guess it is the kind of ideal approach that any athlete should have. However, Kawhi Anthony Leonard thinks that it really depends on person to person either because some people can digest a heavy snack or even a full meal and play without feeling heavy. In his experience, he has experienced both these things. He recalls, "Yeah, you got guys in the locker room who will be eating a whole sandwich or something. They want to feel heavy or something, I guess."There are definitely other things that one has to care about besides eating and fueling themselves in the game. The pressure in the game is intense and you have to deal with all that. For Kawhi Anthony Leonard, a little bathroom break is all he needs to feel rejuvenated. When a reporter asked him the same and gave his opinion about the short bathroom breaks, Kawhi Anthony Leonard commented, "Yeah, I definitely understand that."Kawhi Anthony Leonard does not just follow the diet for himself but also advises his fans and young people who want to aim for something like that. I am guessing that is probably because he himself has no guidance when he was in college. Now that he is a veteran, he definitely gives out some kind of advice to the kids who are planning or looking forward to his advice. He says, "I’d just tell them to try to eat more fresh and natural foods. Eat organic products. Also, watch the type of water you’re drinking. Not all water is great for you. I drink a lot of water during the day, but I stay away from certain waters because their pH levels are low. Stick to alkaline waters with a higher pH. Trust me."His advice about alkaline water is pretty popular and has sort of stuck with his image. He is such a patron of that. Besides this, all he really does is stick to organic, fresh, and local produce for the best health. With this, that was all about his workout routine and everything else which is essential to support his active lifestyle and career demands, that is, his food intake and his diet plan!