TORONTO — The NBA Finals have been a tale of two free-agent superstar forwards — only one of whom has enhanced his legacy and zoomed into status as NBA’s best player.
Though Kevin Durant has yet to play or talk to the media and has barely showed his face in The Finals, Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard has carried Canada’s team on his back to one victory from the franchise’s first championship.
While averaging 31.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals, Leonard has gotten the most out of his Raptors teammates on both ends.
The 6-foot-7 forward brings all the intangibles that separates him from past perennial stars who never had postseason success, such as Carmelo Anthony.
“I think most teams will take cues from their leaders or star players,’’ Raptors first-year coach Nick Nurse said following the 105-92 Game 4 victory Friday that put Toronto in control, leading the series 3-1. “That spreads around a bit. Obviously he’s playing great and he’s lifted us a lot of times with big buckets or runs of buckets, and getting that bucket when the place is going crazy and he’ll calmly sink one to quiet the crowd.’’
There is nothing flashy about Leonard’s game or flowery about his rhetoric. The unflappable one, who turns 28 later this month, just does the right thing, and his mates are rising to his level. Leonard’s ability to pass out of double teams has improved since the Raptors fell behind 0-2 to Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference finals. They are 7-1 since.
“[Leonard] is so willing to do whatever it takes,’’ one NBA assistant coach told The Post. “He just cares about winning. His preference is to keep the ball in some of those situations, but he’s not stubborn.”
Perhaps Warriors stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green thought they were good enough to beat Toronto without Durant, but that isn’t the case.
Durant’s defense — his quick hands and length — is missed as much as on the attack.
The Raptors have too many brutish forwards who can exploit these Warriors. Serge Ibaka has become a beast in the two wins in Oakland, and Pascal Siakam continues to be steady. Green, such a force through the playoffs, has been nullified.
With the Warriors dynasty wobbling, Durant’s Game 5 status — and Golden State career — is unclear. Even Warriors coach Steve Kerr has gone mum in refusing to state whether Durant has conducted a full-contact scrimmage — the requirement to be cleared to play Monday. At this point, there’s nothing to lose.
Leonard doesn’t talk in platitudes, but he’s a basketball savant. He was a major part of two straight Finals teams in San Antonio, winning a ring in 2014.
There are few clues whether the Raptors winning a title will prevent him from leaving this summer for the Clippers or the Knicks. Being glib is not a Leonard forte.
Leonard gave a typical laconic answer late Friday on what a championship would mean to Canada. He simply won’t delve into topics in which he isn’t familiar. About 1,000 Raptors fans had just clogged the lower bowl to sing a postgame rendition of “O Canada” in a poignant scene.
“I’m really not sure,’’ Leonard said. “I guess you really would have to ask somebody on the street or one of our fans. I’m pretty sure it’s a long time waiting. They’re going to be excited. They’re already excited just at us just being here for the first time. They’re going crazy after the Eastern Conference finals. [But] you got to ask probably a fan or somebody that’s in Canada, been living in Canada for a while. But I know they’re going to be super excited.’’
Leonard is a lot better talking about defense and how he views his role as spreading the wealth than he is the personal praise.
“Once I’m driving in the paint, kicking out to guys that are making shots, the defense doesn’t want to collapse as easy,’’ said Leonard, who averaged 33 points in the two Oakland triumphs. “I feel like we just don’t need to worry about me scoring the basketball. We all can score with the offense we have.
“At times, when I do have the ball, the offense gets real stagnant and we just stay in one spot. And that’s so easy to guard if you’re defending us. So it’s about just moving the ball, playing the team sport and trusting everyone.”
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To start the second half Friday, with the Raptors trailing by four, Leonard buried two straight 3-pointers, and Toronto never looked back. Leonard poured in 17 of his 36 points in the third, when the Raptors may have closed down the old barn in Oakland.
“I thought it changed the whole feel of everybody,’’ Nurse said. “I just thought everybody was like ‘OK, man, we know we are here. Let’s go.’ ’’
Leonard’s emotion-free personality could make him perfect for the Knicks and the chaotic fishbowl New York players play in. Then again, Leonard, selected 15th in the draft, is also perfect in Canada — a country not known for its flair but solid to the bone.
“It’s not over yet, so I can’t say that we’re better [than them],’’ Leonard said.
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