The NBA playoffs are over, and the Raptors were victorious — yea! Deservedly so Kawhi Leonard received the playoff MVP. It was an amazing performance throughout the playoffs by Kawhi and an incredible success story for the Toronto Raptors — go Canada! I am not a huge NBA fan anymore but like to root for the underdog and like a nice juicy upset now and again. Players like Kawhi are why I do watch.

What I like about Kawhi is the way he goes about doing his job, very quietly, very workman-like, without hardly a change of expression, nor nary a word to the referees despite often getting abused at the offensive end. No fist pumping, no muscle making, just get the job done. Unlike many of the other player’s who complain at every call (Dramon Green comes to mind), scream at the moon — when they make a good play, and chest thump or tap their biceps when they do something good. What these later players fail to realize is that many young players now think that type of behavior is acceptable even at the high school level — it’s not!

Like it or not, NBA players are role models for these young kids, and their bad behavior on the Court definitely affects the many similar antics I now see at the high school level. I realize sports are an emotional situation, and I don’t think for a moment you can or should take all the emotion out, but excessive demonstrations should be saved for when you’ve actually done something notable — like win a world championship.

Interesting all I saw Kawhi do after they won was put his two arms in the air and smile — just a job well done by a class act!