So here’s the first video we have of Kawhi Leonard on his tour of China. As I’ve said previously, we have some Spurs fans in China who are helping with updates, images and video on what Kawhi is up to in the Far East.

Here is the first video update we can share, and interview he took part in, and below is a transcript and translation for our Chinese readers.

Question:

问：首先欢迎你来到北京，你的球迷们非常好奇，像你这样的超级巨星，为什么还能保持如此的谦逊？

First of all, welcome to Beijing. Your fans must be very curious, they don’t know how you keep your level of humility even as an NBA superstar. How do you do that?

Answer:

以敬畏的态度对待比赛，知己所长。每场比赛都需要身体和意志力的双重投入，保持一颗敬畏的心，就像对待生活一样。运动员有自己的生涯周期，没有人永远是巨星。

Just respecting the game of basketball, every aspect of it. Every game needs your body just as focused as your mind. So I try to stay respectful to the game of basketball, and also life in general. If you don’t have a life outside of basketball, you won’t be a famous basketball player forever, so I try to take that into account.

Question:

问：你会在中国和小球员们进行见面，对于那些视你为偶像的年轻人来说，你有什么话要对他们说吗？

You have many young people here in China who view you as a role model. Do you have anything to say to them?

Answer:

享受篮球，保持初心，全情投入，坚持训练，注意饮食，保持身形。保持对篮球运动的热爱，同时用心完成自己的学业，那样即使你不能进入NBA，你还有学位和奖学金。

Just to continue to enjoy the game, and like I just said, to respect it. That could mean studying it, going out working on your game, shooting jumpshots, dribbling, eating the right food, making sure your body’s prepared to play a game, so just be respectful of the game. Make sure you take care of your schoolwork as well. If you’re not fortunate enough to go to the NBA [or any other professional league], you could also get a scholarship, a degree or focus towards something else in life.

Question:

卡哇伊，欢迎你来到中国，第一次来感觉如何？你有没有邀请邓肯一起来呢？

Kawhi, welcome to Beijing. Obviously, you’re the first Spurs player in China. Would you like to invite Timmy next time?

Answer:

哈哈哈。你说你想邀请邓肯来中国？我到中国不到一周时间，感觉不错，非常多元。人民非常友善热情。我去了长城，和孩子们见了面。

[patented Kawhi Leonard laugh], you said you would like to invite Timmy? You should try to get him out here. I’ve been out here for a while, and the experience has been great.This place is very diverse, the people here are very friendly. We’re going to go to the Great Wall of China, see what that is about. It’s going to be fun to see it in person.

Question:

为新赛季做了些准备吗？

How do you prepare for the new season?

Answer:

我还处于恢复阶段，也是为了新赛季能百分百投入比赛，希望成为更出色的球员，拥有更好的领导力。很多方面都在做准备，积极训练，尤其是投篮方面，新赛季你会看到的。

Make sure to start the rehabbing process slower, get back to 100%, come back a better player, better man, better leader. Just like I said, I respect it, I’m very passionate about it, this is why I work so hard about it. You’ll see what I’ve been working on next season.

Question:

你对新赛季有什么期待？你的角色将是怎样的？

What are your expectations for next season?

Answer:

每个赛季的期待都是一样的，努力投入新赛季，担任好领袖职责，集中目标冲击季后赛，去夺得总冠军。

The expectations for every season are always the same, work hard on your game, play as a team, and work for the championship.

Question:

新赛季西部的竞争对手都有不小的提升，火箭签下了保罗、勇士留下了核心阵容、雷霆签下了保罗-乔治，新赛季你们将如何应对？

The Western Conference has been as strong as ever, the Rockets traded for Chris Paul, the Warriors are as good as they have ever been, so what are your teammates’ goals for the season?

Answer:

从我拥有的经验来看，面对什么样的对手不是重点，重点在于自己，自己的球队如何执行教练的战术。我关注的就是马刺队，确保我们是最好的队伍，团队篮球才是出发点。

From my experiences, playing in this league isn’t about the opponent you face, but is about what’s in yourself and your team. I just focus on the Spurs, and making sure I have the best team, and it’s basically just us moving together as a collective group, and getting better day by day.

Question:

你们签下了鲁迪-盖伊，对此你有何评价？这对你的球队有什么帮助？

What are your thoughts on the Rudy Gay signing?

Answer:

他很棒，对我们的攻防转换和防守都有好处。新球员总需要适应的时间，但毫无疑问，他非常适合我们。

I think it’s great for us. He can score, he has a lot of length, we’ll be able to switch on defense, but we’ll just have to see over the course of this season. I think he’s the right fit for us for sure.

Question:

你跟波波维奇之间最有趣的记忆是什么？

What’s the most interesting thing about you and Popovich?

Answer:

有些人会对别人有误判。比如有人觉得波波维奇刻薄不友好，就像有人觉得我很安静，也不爱笑。这就是我觉得波波维奇最有意思的地方。

I think that people have the wrong perception of others. Some people think that Coach Pop is mean all the time, while others think I don’t smile. That’s what I think is the most interesting thing between me and Coach Pop.

Question:

与邓肯和帕克这样的球员做队友，对你的职业生涯有何启发？

How did Tim Duncan and Tony Parker inspire your career?

Answer:

他们不惹麻烦，为人谦虚。他们教我学习如何以专业的态度做事，我要做的就是跟随他们的脚步，向他们学习。

They’re very hard working and they don’t get into trouble. They’re also very humble and they taught me how to do things in a professional manner. Just following their lead has helped me immensely with my career.

Question:

对新赛季马刺的新秀们有何评价？

What are your thoughts on the younger members on the Spurs?

Answer:

夏季联赛他们表现的很扎实，攻防都不错。投篮也不错。预测别人和过早下定论都是一件困难的事儿，毕竟大学篮球和NBA篮球还是有很大区别的。相信他们，在教练们的帮助下，会度过过渡期的。

They looked great during summer league, solid offense and defense. They also are great shooters, which is definitely an added bonus. Predicting how others would pan out is a difficult thing, but I have faith in the training staff, and I have faith in the players as well.