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Kawhi Leonard · In what would ultimately go down as their second-largest defeat in an otherwise-historic 2023-24 season, the Boston Celtics found that in almost everything they attempted, there was one common denominator at the center of their mistakes: Kawhi Leonard. Never one to allow his next move be known, though, the six-time All-Star showed that he had no problem disappearing from time-to-time, either. Stationed along the left high-post with a 26-point advantage and Payton Pritchard at his back, Leonard schools the youthful guard with the “now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t” treatment, metamorphosing into dust with a blur-quick baseline spin before elevating into a ferocious contact jam. From the L.A. Clippers’ back-to-back to his back-to-basket game, Leonard helped his team walk into Boston — a place where only one team had won all season — and string together win No. 2 of their vital, seven-game Eastern Conference road trip. From his work in holding opposing Celtics players to just 2-of-14 shooting to his tireless hunt through passing lanes, Leonard’s two-way impact proved boundless in the 19-point payback win on January 27, 2024. With a business-like approach, Leonard starred with 26 points, seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and three 3-pointers. · State of Mint