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Knudson: Uncaged

By Mark Knudson, The Mtn. Insider
March 5, 2012

The comparisons began as soon as he donned an Aztecs jersey and began grabbing every rebound in sight. Kawhi Leonard reminded San Diego State fans – and many basketball observers – of a former Aztec great who made rebounding his passion. Michael Cage remains San Diego State’s all-time leader in rebounds and the way he cleaned the glass, both as an Aztec and during his 15-year NBA career, is the stuff of legends.

In 2009, Leonard showed up on campus. Similar in frame – broad shoulders, enormous hands and a tremendous wingspan – he began snatching down rebounds the same way Cage did. The comparisons were inevitable.

Leonard, who left school after his sophomore year and is now in his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs, was too young to have seen his predecessor play, and despite what others have told him, doesn’t really see the comparisons for himself.

“I didn’t get to see him play,” Leonard said of Cage. “I think I got to meet him once and I know he was a ‘four’ (forward) and I’m more of a wing player.”

“Yes, they both have those broad shoulders,” said Leonard’s head coach, Greg Popovich, smiling at the comparison. “Kawhi’s been great. He’s a quick learner. We’ve been able to get him some playing time because he buys into playing defense and rebounding. We are working on his offensive game, his three point shot and that’s coming along.”

Along with the broad shoulders, Leonard has the same kind of enormous hands and amazing wingspan that Cage had, able to snatch rebounds away from opponents even when the ball doesn’t necessarily bounce his direction. But after being all about rebounding and defense as a freshman, Leonard developed a more balanced offensive game during his sophomore season on the Mesa and became a dominant player at both ends.

Cage, who was the 14th pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, was dominant at the next level as a defender and rebounder. He actually pulled down 30 rebounds on the final day of the 1988 season to win the NBA rebounding title, and over his 15 years in the league, played tenacious defense for five different teams. Cage was never known as an offensive playmaker, so that’s where the similarities between the two end. Leonard was picked 15th in last year’s draft and is now working hard to be not only a great defender and rebounder, but also become a consistent offensive threat at the NBA level.

So far, so good. Leonard’s play has pleased Popovich, and earned him an invitation to NBA All-Star Weekend to play in the Rookies vs. Sophomores Game. A calf injury kept him from playing, but being chosen to play was a big vote of confidence from those around the league who see a star in the making.
There’s no telling what kind of career numbers Leonard would have ended up with at San Diego State if he had chosen to stay and play all four years. He didn’t, so for now, Cage’s schools records are safe.

Now it’s up to Leonard to see if he can make as big an impact at the NBA level and Cage did.
See all of Mark Knudson's blog entries HERE.