Bold rookie Cedric Coward directly approached Kawhi Leonard for a workout, embodying his "closed mouths don't get fed" philosophy.
Cedric Coward did not wait for an introduction. He walked up and asked.
In an interview with HoopsHype during All-Star Weekend, Coward described how he approached Kawhi Leonard after a game to request a workout — even though he did not have Leonard’s contact information.
“The time I asked if I can work out with him, he said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’” Coward told HoopsHype.
Coward said he later followed up to make sure the offer still stood.
“And then the next time I saw him, I asked again and made sure like it was okay,” he told HoopsHype. “Now we just got to get connected.”
For Coward, the moment was less about boldness and more about mindset.
“I live by the motto, closed mouths don’t get fed,” he told HoopsHype.
The rookie acknowledged the exchange may have looked awkward from the outside. He was not concerned.
“So even if I look like a PR dude at the time, that’s okay,” he told HoopsHype. “He didn’t deny me, so it’s cool.”
Coward’s willingness to initiate contact reflects how he has approached his first NBA season. The Memphis forward has averaged 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 48 games while shooting 46.8 percent from the field. He earned a Rising Stars selection during All-Star Weekend, an accelerated rise for a player who appeared in just six college games before entering the league.
He said Leonard is not the only player he hopes to learn from. Coward told HoopsHype he studies elite players across the league, paying attention to their footwork, shot preparation and physical maintenance.
“There’s one Kawhi Leonard, and then there’s one Cedric Coward,” he told HoopsHype. “But at the same time, if I can learn from greats like that, if I can learn from guys that are All-Stars and I can add what they have into my game and mold myself with them along with many others, then that can only be beneficial.”
Coward also expressed interest in understanding longevity, noting that conversations with veterans can offer insight that film study cannot.
“Obviously you hear the stories, but it’s better to hear from the source,” he told HoopsHype.
Memphis enters the stretch run at 20-33, sitting 11th in the Western Conference. Injuries have defined much of the season. Ja Morant has appeared in only 20 games and is expected to miss at least three weeks with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
In that context, internal development carries added weight. Coward’s production has been steady, but his focus appears to extend beyond box scores.
Rather than waiting for opportunity to come to him, he sought it out.
For a rookie navigating the NBA’s learning curve, that may prove as significant as any stat line.