Kawhi Leonard on navigating the basketball world with hands big enough to have him nicknamed 'The Klaw'

Kawhi always had a big pair of hands, which have always been some of his best assets. Kawhi Leonard has been one of the best NBA players over the past decade. He is one of the greatest perimeter defenders because of his length and defensive IQ, but Kawhi also earned the moniker “The Klaw” for his massive hands that helped him become a standout defender in the passing lanes.

While his massive hands, which measure 9.75 inches in length by 11.25 inches in width, are useful for defense, Leonard admitted that there are regular struggles during games. He ensures he can resolve those issues before heading out to the court.

“It's just kinda difficult shooting sometimes. It's just difficult. A lot of hard work. You know, sometimes,” Leonard said on Serge Ibaka’s “How Hungry Are You?” series. “Like, if you shoot a girl's basketball, it's smaller, it's hard to shoot it, hard to roll off your hands. So, some games or some shots that I do shoot it, it'll be too far in my hands, so I have to really focus on that.”

Kawhi has been efficient despite the issue with big hands

The big hands are a blessing and a curse for Leonard because they have some benefits and risks. He had to learn how to play well with those hands because it was only natural for him to struggle to shoot the ball when it felt unnatural to him compared to the players with smaller hands.

You can look at some players with big hands, and they usually struggle with shooting the ball. The two that come to mind are Shaquille O’Neal, a prolific free-throw shooter who missed a lot of them, while the other player is Rajon Rondo, a playmaking extraordinaire who struggled with shooting the basketball.

Throughout his career, Leonard has shot 49.9% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc, and 86.2% from the free throw line. Those are fantastic stats for a player with massive hands due to the expectations for players with that trait.

Kawhi is always mindful of the disadvantages

Leonard knows the issues with having big hands as a basketball player. That is why he always works on his jump shot to have a good feel for the game. It has worked throughout his career, as seen with his numbers, which are unique compared to his peers.

Apart from the hands being a hindrance to his basketball life, Kawhi also knows that his hands are a problem away from the court. However, like he does on the court, he adjusts whenever needed.

“Definitely. I don't notice until I see either my friends or someone else doing an activity, and you know, I'm like, I can't do that, like putting my hands in my pockets. Sometimes, it's way too small,” The two-time Finals MVP said on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

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