The Dan Le Batard Show did what any rational person would do when you combine Kawhi Leonard with a superhero marketing pitch. They went straight to Groot.
This all started when Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reported that Aspiration — the now-defunct company at the center of the Clippers’ salary cap investigation — had plans to market Leonard as a Marvel-style superhero. That is a real thing that existed. And it is absolutely hilarious in hindsight.
So the show dropped a poll: “Does Groot say more words than Kawhi?”
Leonard has never been a quote machine. That’s not breaking news. But pairing that personality with a Marvel-style branding push? That’s the kind of irony that writes itself.
The Investigation That Won’t Go Away
Let’s back up. The NBA is looking into whether the Clippers used Aspiration to funnel under-the-table payments to Leonard. The goal, according to the reporting, was to help LA circumvent the salary cap. And if history is any guide, that kind of thing usually ends with picks being taken away, fines, or worse.
The Raptors were supposed to be the team trading for Leonard. But once Toronto realized they’d inherit any punishment that comes from this mess, they hit pause. Smart move. The Raptors aren’t going to take on a potential suspension or cap penalty without knowing the full scope of it first.
Leonard just wrapped up the best regular season of his career with the Clippers. Most pundits still think this trade goes through eventually, even if Toronto has to absorb some kind of penalty. That reunion with the team he won a title with seven years ago? Too much momentum to kill over a Marvel marketing gaffe.
But for now, the joke is too good to ignore. Groot says “I am Groot.” Kawhi says maybe a little more than that. Maybe.
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