HoopsHype.com Rumors

The San Antonio Spurs unveiled today a new alternate jersey that will be worn during the upcoming 2012-13 NBA season. Kawhi Leonard is shown wearing the uniform. The fresh look silver jerseys with black trim feature the Spurs iconic secondary logo prominently on the front. The alternate jerseys will debut at the home opener vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 1 and be worn during multiple home games throughout the season. (ALL RIGHTS RESV'D) San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard 

What kind of season do you see Kawhi Leonard having next season? Also, where do you see him in five years? Gregg Popovich: I think he's going to be a star. And as time goes on, he'll be the face of the Spurs I think. At both ends of the court, he is really a special player. And what makes me be so confident about him is that he wants it so badly. He wants to be a good player, I mean a great player. He comes early, he stays late, and he's coachable, he's just like a sponge. When you consider he's only had one year of college and no training camp yet, you can see that he's going to be something else. CBSSports.com

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Kawhi Leonard 

Jeff McDonald: Pop also effusive on rookie Kawhi Leonard: "He’s somebody who is hopefully going to be a Spur for a long, long time." Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard 

Kevin Durant’s shooting percentage dipped in each of his three games against San Antonio this season. Not coincidentally, rookie Kawhi Leonard’s responsibilities against the NBA’s leading scorer increased in each game. San Antonio Express-News

Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard 

Durant averaged 22.7 points per game and shot 46.8 percent in three games against the Spurs. Those figures are down significantly from his league-leading regular-season average of 28.0 points per game and a career-best 49.6 percent from the field. San Antonio Express-News

Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard 

Theoretically, making Durant work on defense should make it harder for him offensively. But even with his increasing success, Leonard said he is taking nothing for granted as he will be asked to be the primary defender against the NBA’s first-team All-NBA small forward. “That doesn’t matter to this upcoming series,” Leonard said. “Both these teams got better. I just focus in on the now.” San Antonio Express-News

Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard 

The selected players of the Team USA Select team are: Ryan Anderson (Orlando); DeJuan Blair (San Antonio; DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz); Paul George (Indiana); Taj Gibson (Chicago); Gordon Hayward (Utah); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio); Jeremy Lin (New York); Klay Thompson (Golden State); and John Wall (Washington). Sulia

Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, John Wall, Gordon Hayward, DeJuan Blair, DeMar DeRozan, USA Basketball, Jeremy Lin, Taj Gibson, Ryan Anderson, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard 

And considering that Kawhi Leonard was the rare rookie to earn a starting position with the Spurs, Coach Gregg Popovich has been intrigued with his growth this season. “He’s been a real dedicated player, he’s been a quick learner,” Popovich said. “He’s done a good enough job where I can trust him to be in the starting lineup. I’m happy for him.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Kawhi Leonard 

David Locke: Huge honor for Hayward and Favors - other members include Irving, Wall, DeRozan, George, Leonard, Blair, Ryan Anderson and Taj Gibson Twitter

Derrick Favors, Paul George, John Wall, Gordon Hayward, DeJuan Blair, DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson, Ryan Anderson, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard 

Jimmer Mania wasn't all hype. This, Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard firmly believes. Immersed in his own rookie season, Leonard admits he hasn't seen Jimmer Fredette play much this season with the Kings. But he remembers how Fredette lit up the Mountain West Conference — and his own San Diego State squad — last season at BYU, led the NCAA in scoring and won national player of the year honors. Fredette, a 6-foot-2 shooter the Kings are hoping to remake as a point guard, has struggled to find a foothold his first season in Sacramento. Heading into Wednesday's game against the Spurs, Fredette was averaging 7.2 points and shooting 38.3 percent in 18:23 per game. “It's his first year,” said Leonard, selected 15th in the June draft, five spots lower than Fredette. “Everybody's struggling as rookies coming in. With the lockout, you didn't get to practice with your teammates. He's a hard worker. I believe he'll get better as time goes on.” San Antonio Express-News

Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Jimmer Fredette, Kawhi Leonard 

Irving and Rubio are joined by fellow first-year players MarShon Brooks (New Jersey Nets), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats), and Derrick Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves). NBA.com

Kemba Walker, Derrick Williams, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Markieff Morris, Brandon Knight, Marshon Brooks 

When the Spurs moved George Hill—the team’s only backup to veteran point guard Tony Parker—to acquire the rights to Kawhi Leonard, that told one scout everything he needed to know. “I thought, ‘he must be pretty good,’” the scout said. “If you lose Parker, that’s it. And that’s a team that doesn’t get guys unless they know how to play.” Leonard hasn’t disappointed either. He’s used his freakishly long wingspan to defend small forwards, power forwards and shooting guards while grabbing 5.2 RPG and scoring 7.4 PPG. “I think the Spurs knew something there,” the scout said. HoopsWorld

San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard 

The Spurs also signed T.J. Ford to back up Parker and are hopeful that players such as forward James Anderson and center Tiago Splitter can have productive years. They are also excited about the potential of 20-year-old rookie forward Kawhi Leonard. ”We’ve always had a decent number of young guys (who played),” said Popovich, who couldn’t resist a joke. “It’s just that everybody concentrates on Tim, Tony and Manu and thinks of those three guys. When Robert (Horry) played for us I think he was 44 or 45. He used to do all the hamburger commercials. But we’ve always had a few young guys.” SheridanHoops

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Gregg Popovich, James Anderson, Kawhi Leonard 

Sam Amick: San Antonio rookie forward Kawhi Leonard signed his deal today, according to a source. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard 

The two Knicks, Anthony and Billups, are among five named plaintiffs, joining Kevin Durant of the Thunder, Kawhi Leonard of the Spurs and Leon Powe of the Grizzlies. Boies said Anthony and Billups were “interested in participating.’’ New York Post

Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Kevin Durant, Law, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Leon Powe, Kawhi Leonard, David Boies 

Jeff Zillgitt: Plaintiffs named on lawsuit filed against NBA: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Kevin Durant, Leon Poew, Kawhi Leonard. Twitter

New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Law, CBA, Chauncey Billups, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Kawhi Leonard, David Boies 

Spurs top draft pick Kawhi Leonard is back in San Diego during the lockout. In previous seasons, Leonard would be working out at the Spurs’ team facility as he would be preparing for rookie games later in the summer. But with the lockout, Leonard has returned to his old school to work as he awaits his rookie season — whenever the impasse is settled. “I’m just going to be working out till it’s over,” Leonard told Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Hopefully, that’s going to be resolved soon.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard 

Multiple teams expect Leonard to be gone by Sacramento at No. 7. ESPN.com

Sacramento Kings, Draft, Kawhi Leonard 

One player who appears to be getting a little lost in the shuffle is UConn's Kemba Walker. While the Jazz are considering him at No. 3, I believe he's behind both Brandon Knight and Enes Kanter on their board. The Raptors are the next logical landing place for Walker, but they've never been particularly high on him. They've flirted for a while with Jan Vesely, but as I reported on Tuesday, the team appears to be emphasizing defense in the wake of hiring Dwyane Casey. It now appears that either Bismack Biyombo or Kawhi Leonard are the favorites to go No. 5. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Draft, Enes Kanter, Kemba Walker, Jan Vesely, Kawhi Leonard, Bismack Biyombo, Brandon Knight 

While another small point guard TJ Ford didn't work out for them, word is Colangelo is considering rolling the dice on Kemba. Despite his incredible season, there are some concerns over whether he is a true point guard and big enough. His fearlessness, leadership, and character cannot be questioned, however. Jan Vesely and Kawhi Leonard are also possibilities here. HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Draft, Kemba Walker, Jan Vesely, Kawhi Leonard