The San Antonio Spurs reportedly held a players-only meeting recently in an effort to "implore" Kawhi Leonard to return to the lineup, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Tony Parker "quarterbacked" the meeting after San Antonio's victory over Minnesota on Saturday night, and Woj reports that the conversation was described as tense and emotional at times.
"Several teammates spoke up, expressing frustration and confusion over a growing divide that has created significant tension between Leonard and the Spurs," writes Wojnarowski.
However, Spurs shooting guard Danny Green took to twitter shortly after the story was published today to say that it "couldn't be anymore incorrect."
Regardless of what happened during that meeting, the Kawhi Leonard situation is bizarre, especially by Spurs standards. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year has played in only nine games this season due to a nagging quad injury, despite reports that he was nearing a return last week. According to Wojnarowski, Kawhi "has impressed his coaches and teammates in 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 workouts," but insists that he has a good reason for sitting on the sidelines while the Spurs fight for playoff positioning.
Leonard has averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals in his nine games this season.
San Antonio, 42-30, currently holds the sixth seed in the Western Conference but they're just 1.5 games up on the eighth seeded Utah Jazz. The Spurs could just as easily climb up in the standings as they're only a half-game back of the Oklahoma City Thunder who are in sole possession of fourth place.