Kawhi Leonard's camp refutes ESPN report: 'Nothing true to that story'

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The Spurs relationship with Kawhi Leonard is far from strained, according to a relative.

Disputing a report from ESPN, that described Leonard and his camp as "distant" and "disconnected" from the team, Leonard's uncle, Dennis Robertson, says there is no tension between the two parties.

"There is nothing true to that story," Robertson told the Express-News hours after the story published. "Kawhi's camp and the Spurs are how they've always been – doing the right thing for the team and the right thing for Kawhi."

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The team announced Leonard would miss additional time to rehab his right quadriceps tendinopathy injury, which a person close to Leonard described as a "regrouping," not a setback.

The ESPN report said Leonard's injury was having "chilling impact" on his relationship with the franchise due to the amount of time the two-time All-Star has missed this season and the added frustration of the slow recovery.

Kawhi Leonard’s health status has led to season-long drama. Kawhi Leonard’s health status has led to season-long drama. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Kawhi Leonard's camp refutes ESPN report: 'Nothing true to that story' 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

Quoted in the article, Spurs GM R.C. Buford said: "This has been difficult for everyone. It's been difficult for Kawhi. He's an elite-level player. It's been difficult for the team, because they want to play with a great teammate. And it's been difficult for our staff. Historically we've been able to successfully manage injuries. This rehab hasn't been simple, and it hasn't gone in a linear fashion."

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Before making his season debut last month against the Dallas Mavericks, Leonard missed 27 games due to the injury, which occurred last season. In the nine games Leonard has appeared, he's averaged 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds. Last week, sources told the Express-News the team hopes to have Leonard back after next month's All-Star break.

"The bottom line is to get Kawhi healthy," Robertson told the Express-News. "Everybody is in agreement there."

Before last week's contest against the Atlanta Hawks, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich confirmed Leonard was feeling pain in his right leg, leading to the mutual decision between the two parties to allow Leonard more time to heal.

"He didn't re-injure it," Popovich told reporters. "He was having pain, not right after the game, but the next day at noon or that kind of thing. The pain wasn't dissipating. It wasn't going in the right direction. It was going the other way."

The Spurs fell to 25-14 this season without Leonard in the lineup after a loss to the Indiana Pacers Sunday evening. The team will host the Cleveland Cavilers on Tuesday at AT&T Center, before traveling to Memphis for the second of a back-to-back.