In 2013, I went to a Warriors-Spurs game with a long-time Golden State fan who has always had nothing but respect for the Silver & Black.

Dressed in my throwback George Gervin jersey, I chose to bring another jersey with me as my Spurs flag to wave when I cheered. It is the only silver jersey I own and the name on the back is LEONARD.

I remember telling my friend, “just watch this kid; he’s like no one you see playing the game right now.” (This was after he asked, “Who the heck is this guy’s jersey you keep waving around?”).

After the game, in which the Spurs won at Oracle Arena without the Big Three, he understood why.

Since the beginning of his career, Leonard has had the grownup task of defending the competition’s best scorers. He has been expected to be that kind of role player, but has come to be so much more.

Opposing teams now game plan against him. Double-teams that were once reserved only for the Spurs’ Big Three are now routinely used on Kawhi. When a big shot needs to happen at the end of game, Coach Pop is confident that it goes to his starting Small Forward. (See both the first home game against the Mavs and the last game in Orlando before the All-Star break). In practice and in the locker room, you might hear teammates calling the Spurs “Kawhi’s team.”

When he was traded to the Spurs during the 2011 draft, did anyone see the team colaescing around Kawhi Leonard this quickly?

It’s hard for me to look at #2 and think of him as a kid. His broad shoulders, deep voice and gargantuan hands give him the prowess of a man amongst men. Yet in the NBA, being 24 years old defines an athlete as one who is just getting his career started. Sure, his quiet approach to media sessions and his boyish smile remind everyone of his youthful nature. However, what Spurs fans and the NBA world have come to find out this season is that Mr. Kawhi Leonard is transforming into the realm of legendary.

I’m happy to see that Leonard has become the kind of player who flocks to the rim for an emphatic dunk – ala the 2014 NBA Finals or 2016 NBA All-Star game – much like Batman heads toward Gotham City when he sees the Bat Signal. Just like Batman, Kawhi has a utility belt of moves on the offensive AND defensive ends. One can only ask, “Where does he get those wonderful toys?” He’s the hero the Alamo City needs to continue its dynastic run.

When asked why he doesn’t celebrate his monster dunks, as do so many of his peers, he simply answered, “Knowing that I did it before… when I got to the NBA, I tried to be more professional.”

Not only is Kawhi now ‘the man’ for the Spurs, he is a unique entity everyone has tried to put a label on: The Klaw, Sugar K Leonard, Who-what-when-where-Kawhi, The Kawhiet Storm, The Silent Assassin, Big Hand, The Long Arm of the Law, and (my Dad’s personal favorite) Kawhi-not.

Kawhi Leonard could care less what people call him, other than a champion.

There is so much to be proud of when I witness the development of this Boy Wonder, the perfect hero for the Spurs organization.