Leonard reflects on his teammate's journey to ninth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
The Los Angeles Clippers took care of business against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, walking away with a 117-109 victory at Intuit Dome.
But while the win pushed the Clippers to 16-23 on the season, the bigger story was James Harden passing Shaquille O'Neal to become the ninth-leading scorer in NBA history.
Kawhi Leonard poured in 35 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 32 minutes of action, but after the game he wanted to talk about his teammate's milestone moment rather than his own performance.
Leonard on Harden's Milestone
Leonard did not hold back when asked about what it meant to watch Harden etch his name even deeper into the record books.
"It's amazing to hear. Where he came from, his upbringing. Showing how much hard work," Leonard said. "He's an inspiration for the youth out here. Knowing that if you work hard you can get there one day. Just stay focused on the daily grind. Through all the ups and downs and everything. It's very hard. Congratulations to him."
Harden dropped 32 points and dished out six assists on the night, and the historic moment came during a stretch where both stars have found their rhythm together.
The Clippers have now rattled off 10 wins in their last 12 games after stumbling out of the gate with a brutal 6-21 start that had many wondering if this season was already lost.
Clippers' Hot Streak Continues
Health has been the difference for this team lately, and it is not even close.
Leonard has suited up for 23 straight games now after missing time earlier in the year, and Harden has only missed three contests all season.
Both of them have been playing north of 35 minutes per game during this run, and it has completely changed the way this team looks on both ends of the floor.
The two stars combined for 67 points against the Hornets, and when the game got tight late in the fourth quarter, they took over like stars are supposed to do.
The Clippers ripped off a 15-1 run to put things away, with Leonard's steady hand down the stretch helping to close the door on a Charlotte team that was hanging around.
Over the team's 10-2 surge, the two-time Finals MVP has averaged 32.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, well above his season marks of 28.1 points and 6.4 boards.
When Leonard is playing at this level and Harden is knocking down shots and running the offense, the Clippers look like a completely different squad than the one that was buried in the Western Conference standings just a few weeks ago.
What's Next for the Clippers
The Clippers still have plenty of ground to make up in the Western Conference, but this recent stretch has shown what they can do when their stars are healthy and on the same page.
They will host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday as they continue climbing back into the playoff race, and if they keep playing like this, they could be a tough out for anyone come April.