MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — A different Kawhi Leonard — one surrounded by friends, family and the little ones who look up to him — was on display this summer.

At a basketball clinic in his hometown, the NBA Finals MVP wasn't the reserved Leonard that San Antonio has come to know. He was relaxed, always smiling and joking.

Even those close to Leonard noticed a small change.

“He probably has more fun now,” his friend and college teammate Jeremy Castleberry said. “... I mean, when you're trying to achieve something, sometimes you're so focused on it. Now, once you get there, you kind of can enjoy it a little bit.”

Leonard was enjoying the moment in Moreno Valley, where he held his third annual basketball clinic for youths.

The participants took pictures with Leonard in front of the Spurs' fifth Larry O'Brien Trophy. Watching the Spurs' small forward, it almost seemed as if taking those pictures meant more to him than they did to the children.

There are “not too many people that are successful from this city right here,” he said. “It's amazing. When I was coming up, I didn't really have that certain someone that I could look up to from my hometown, so, they finally have a hometown hero.”

What also stood out was the Q&A session with participants and his parting speech before the seven-hour clinic concluded.

Leonard, normally shy, gave a speech in front of a packed gym at the Moreno Valley Recreation Center.

“To hear him talk in front of a crowd like that,” said D.J. Gay, Leonard's friend and former teammate at San Diego, “that's like mind-blowing to me because I could never picture him doing that in college. He's come a long way as a man.”

Leonard's grandmother was one of the many family members in attendance. Wanda Robertson watched her grandson and couldn't help but feel proud. She's proud of his accomplishments, but more so for his desire to share it all with youths in his hometown; about not forgetting where he came from.

“Not Riverside,” Wanda said, correcting a common error about Leonard's hometown. “Moreno Valley!”

She continued: “This is where his joy is with the children. It's not so much with the adults. ... For the children, he loves it and I am really proud of him; giving back to the community.”

Life has changed

But even as Leonard is growing into himself more as a player and a man, some things still remain.

Leonard still runs into trouble with gym lights the same way he did in college.

Flashback to a time when Leonard was on the campus of San Diego State and felt the urge to work out early in the morning. He found his way into the dark arena, bringing with him two lamps from his home to provide enough light to shoot.

Leonard said he just was trying to save the university money.

These days, the NBA Finals MVP doesn't always worry about lights being on at his chosen practice site. Still, knowing Leonard's history with gym lights, his agent, Brian Elfus, made sure to illuminate his client's summer evening workout in La Jolla, California.

Kawhi Leonard's mother, Kim Robertson

Video:Kawhi Leonard's aunt in-law, Cheryl Walker-Robertson

Video: Kawhi Leonard's aunt, Tish Christian

Video:Kawhi Leonard's uncle, Dennis Robertson

Video:Kawhi Leonard's grandmother, Wanda Robertson

Standing at the free-throw line in the empty, still half-dark gym, Leonard heard footsteps infiltrating his time with Castleberry. He turned and saw a familiar face emerging.

“No interviews,” he said.

The so-called future face of the Spurs then returned his focus to the basket and continued his workout.

Before June, Leonard could get away with being in the gym alone, practicing with no media attention. Not anymore.

This happens when you help a franchise win an NBA championship and receive praise for one of the best all-around performances in Finals history.

This happens when Leonard, not the Spurs legends — Tim Duncan, Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili — wins the Finals MVP trophy.

Slowly but surely, things change.

Post-workout, Leonard said he informed Elfus late in the summer that all remaining interview requests would be denied. This after appearing on a national morning show and doing an interview for a prominent basketball magazine, followed by a few promotional appearances.

After saying he only had a couple of minutes, he gave a lot more of his time in a dark driveway on the University of California at San Diego campus.

This hasn't been a normal summer for Leonard, who along with his teammates start working toward defending their NBA championship with the start of practice this week. The man who helped the Spurs win their fifth title in franchise history has been bombarded with interview requests and people wanting his time.

“I've done more than I usually do,” he said.

Staying focused

Accolades aside, Leonard's goal remains — he wants to be great. He wants nothing to do with anything that will distract him from the goal. He's even declined money from endorsers willing to pay for his time.

“If (endorsers) want me to get out of the gym, it will have to be a lot of money,” he said.

Asked if he's been offered a good deal to sacrifice the gym, Leonard said, “Nah. Not as much as I want for me to not shoot the basketball that day. (Playing basketball) is what's giving me my money now.”

Leonard's dedication shows. Leonard's former college coach at San Diego State, Steve Fisher, supports that notion.

Fisher labeled the Spurs' fourth-year player a “doer,” someone who “doesn't make excuses” about attempting to become better at his craft. While others talk, Leonard is too busy in the gym making it happen.

Told how Fisher praised his work ethic, Leonard expressed appreciation, saying: “I'm not here settling for less or what I have now. I like to always get better.”

Thing is, you hear so much about Kawhi Leonard, the basketball player, but what about Kawhi Leonard, the man?

Who is the man who made “Indubitably” popular in San Antonio after starring in

H-E-B commercials? What does he like? Is he really as shy as many believe?

Leonard won't reveal too much, that's no secret. He's low-key and wants to keep it that way.

When told there's still so much unknown about him, he tried to sum it up.

“I'm basically what you see out there on the floor,” Leonard said. “Very focused in life. Very determined. I like to have fun. I do laugh and smile a lot and I like to joke around. That's pretty much it. I'm a nice guy. I could be mean sometimes.

“A lot of people just listen to what the media says to see what type of person I am. But if you hung out with me for a day, you'll see how I am.”

Family matters

Perhaps the best place for knowledge about the 6-foot-7, 23-year-old budding star can be found with those who knew him before the stardom, the nicknames and before Spurs fans took notice — Leonard's family.

While he worked out in La Jolla, more than 80 miles north, his family awaited his presence in Moreno Valley.

His mother, Kim Robertson, grandmother Wanda, uncle Dennis Robertson, aunt Tish Christian and his aunt in-law Cheryl Walker-Robertson provided additional insight.

They talked about Leonard's likes and dislikes. His commitment to family. His sense of humor. The fact that material things don't matter. And his watchful eye when it comes to money.

Perhaps the most important thing to know about Leonard: The tight relationship he shares with his mother, who lives with him in San Antonio.

Leonard has the upstairs, his mother takes the downstairs.

She handles the day-to-day operations — grocery shopping, cooking, taking the cars to get serviced, all so her son can concentrate on basketball.

Robertson says the youngest of her three children and only son has aspirations to one day start his own clothing line.

“I told him, 'Why don't you name it Mama's Boy,'” she said humorously. “He said, 'I'm not naming it that.' I said, 'Kawhi, a mama's boy just means you love your mom.'”

Growing from tragedy

After he was drafted in 2011, the then-19-year-old Leonard wanted his mother to live with him. She didn't move to Texas to baby her son, but came because Leonard still needed her input and direction as he entered a completely different world.

“My mom, she's been (this age) before,” Leonard said. “She's been through this life cycle. I definitely try to use her knowledge and her wisdom to help me in my day of life.”

Leonard always has shared a tight relationship with his mother, never more so than after the death of his father, Mark Leonard, who was killed six years ago in 2008 at a car wash he owned in Compton. Leonard was 16.

From the time his father was killed, Leonard has been asked about it constantly. He gives the same response, explaining how close he was to his father, sharing how he misses him, even mentioning that he doesn't want to know the identity of the culprit.

When the Spurs won their fifth title and he grabbed that MVP honor, it was Father's Day.

“He's finally getting over it,” his mother said. “I think he wants to finally get over it and not keep bringing it to light.”

After Mark Leonard's death, Dennis Robertson assisted in any way he could, even though he knew his sister would protect her son.

“Our family has always been close,” he said. “It didn't change the way I looked at things. I was happy to be there so my sister wouldn't have to go through that process.”

Asked about his relationship with his uncle, Leonard said: “With my dad passing away, there aren't too many men in the family and he's a great guy to just talk to that has been through my experiences at my age. He's just been through life already; good guy to talk to.”

It was through his uncle that Leonard discovered financial discipline.

So far in his young basketball career, Leonard has made more than $5 million — more if endorsements are included.

Though his peers may enjoy it, he's not really into jewelry aside from a nice watch.

Dennis Robertson recalled a conversation he had with his nephew about the many athletes go broke after making millions. Leonard vowed to never join the list.

As he explained Leonard's financial discipline, he recalled Leonard wondering how he would transport his first car, a 2008 Chevy Malibu, to San Antonio. Some urged Leonard to just buy a new car.

“He said, 'Well, that's one's paid for,'” his uncle said.

Today, Leonard still gets around the city in that Malibu, though he has upped his style a little. He also bought a Porsche.

Leonard's family reminisced some more, remembering his mood after Game 2 of the NBA Finals when the Spurs fell to the Miami Heat, 98-96. Leonard fouled out, finishing with nine points on 3-of-9 shooting.

He was moody afterwards, and it showed. His mother prepared meatloaf, one of her son's favorite dishes, for dinner, but he declined.

Through two games of the Finals, Leonard hadn't played his best. Back in Moreno Valley, Tish Christian said she texted Leonard hoping to uplift him.

The reply text, she recalled: “Don't worry auntie. We got this.”

Her nephew was correct.

The next three games, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals.

“I just was able to play,” he said. “I feel like Games 1 and 2, I averaged probably 23 minutes. My points were down and I just needed more minutes to play on the floor. ... I just felt like the team clicked and at the same time I started to play well.”

A funny man

Leonard's family agreed that he's actually funny behind the scenes.

“It's absolutely true,” his mother said. “He does. ... He just says things that make you laugh. And he's so real with it, too. He is really funny.”

Leonard showed that serious style of humor back in that dark alley in La Jolla.

Asked about the Spurs' hiring of Becky Hammon, who became the first full-time female assistant coach in the NBA: “I don't know if I am going to listen to her at all,” he said, not cracking a smile. “You know, she's like 5-foot-3, don't know about (bigger players) pushing her around all day.”

He laughed before adding: “She's a nice lady. Seems like she really loves the game. ... I will respect her, who she is, not even as a coach, first. ... I mean she played 16 years, so I will probably get a lot from her.”

With a week's worth of workouts complete, Leonard made the drive to Moreno Valley to host his basketball clinic.

There, Leonard showcased his character even more.

He interacted with everyone, shaking hands, engaging with campers and even agreed to let NBA TV put a mic on him, surprising Elfus.

Returning home could've been one reason Leonard displayed a side he rarely shows. He was in a setting where he knew just about everyone, and everyone knew him. Not Leonard the NBA player, but Leonard the man.

Back to work

A new NBA season approaches this week when the Spurs report for duty Friday for media day and practices before heading overseas for preseason games in Germany and Turkey. Leonard knows he'll be in the spotlight.

Less than a week after earning the Finals MVP, Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant created a mini-Twitter dustup when someone suggested choosing Leonard over Indiana Pacers star Paul George.

The tweet said Leonard would perform at the same level, if not better, in Indiana than George.

Durant disputed that, saying Leonard was a product of the Spurs system. He later deleted the tweet and clarified his stance, offering a vague apology.

Leonard never spoke on the issue until his clinic. He said Durant's opinion didn't bother him. In fact, Leonard doesn't pay attention to social media.

“My team won the championship,” he said, “that's the goal. That's where everybody wants to be at, so ... I got my own expectations ... I don't ever try to reach anyone else's.”

Asked about the Spurs' offseason moves, Leonard approved.

“We had a great offseason,” he said. “We called back Boris (Diaw), Patty (Mills). Tony (Parker); we have a point guard for the future; I'm happy about that just in case the Spurs do extend me and if I am a Spur for life. That's a great thing to know that Tony will be there.”

Told he used the word “if” when describing his own extension, Leonard said: “I mean, you never know. ... You know how the game is, it's business.”

Leonard is eligible to receive an extension from the Spurs, which has to be done before an Oct. 31 deadline. He can receive the max amount: either a four-year, $68.5 million deal, or a five-year deal worth a little more than $85 million.

If the Spurs and Leonard do not agree on an extension or if he doesn't sign a qualifying offer worth a little more than $4 million, Leonard will become a restricted free agent next summer, with the Spurs able to match any offer he may receive.

If Leonard accepts the qualifying offer, but no extension, he would be an unrestricted free agent in summer 2016.

Many in NBA circles don't think negotiations will get to that point, because it would be a huge risk for the Spurs. The team has made good with extensions for Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and center Tiago Splitter last year.

The Spurs never talk about contracts until they're signed. For now, Leonard will leave that part of his career to Elfus and concentrate on helping the Spurs win another title.

As he departed his camp, it was assumed Leonard would make the one hour, 30-minute drive back to La Jolla for more gym time.

“No,” he said. “Tomorrow is Sunday — a day off.”

It was a day well deserved.

jyoung@express-news.net