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NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard Kept 1997 Tahoe After Signing $94M Contract

The Toronto Raptors won their first-ever NBA Championship this week, with California native Kawhi Leonard having been named the NBA Finals MVP after helping to carry to the team to victory.

Leonard won his first NBA title in 2012 with the San Antonio Spurs and later signed a four-year, $94 million deal with the team in 2015. You’d think with that kind of cashflow, Leonard would at least buy himself a new SUV or some type of luxury sedan, but he has a reputation for being one of the NBA’s most humble players for a reason.

1997-Chevrolet-Tahoe-1

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe

In a 2016 interview with Sports Illustrated, the quiet 27-year old revealed that he was still driving his 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe, which he had when he was a teenager growing up in Southern California’s Inland Empire region. Even though he had recently signed a contract that paid him $16 million a year, he said he had no reason to get rid of the vehicle, explaining that “it runs” and “it’s paid off.”

Kawhi also nicknamed the vehicle ‘Gas Guzzler’, which is certainly an appropriate nickname for a Tahoe of that generation, although we’re sure Leonard isn’t worried about how much he’s spending on fuel each week.

CNBC says it reached out to a spokesperson from the Toronto Raptors to ask if Leonard brought the Tahoe with him to Canada when he was traded from San Antonio last July, but the team did not respond. It seems unlikely they will get a response after last night’s big win – we’re sure the Raptor’s press team is busier than they have ever been in the team’s 24-year history.

Kawhi-Leonard-NBA-2019

Kawhi Leonard

Prior to the Tahoe, Kawhi Leonard drove a silver Chevrolet Malibu sedan. When the car died, he went and fetched his old Tahoe from his mother’s driveway, fixed it up, and began driving it instead. He also bought a Porsche of some type early in his NBA career, according to reports, but even that was a purchase made at his friend’s behest.

Source: CNBC

Kawhi Leonard photo via Wikimedia Commons

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. Humble man with an impeccable taste in vehicles ?.

    Reply
  2. Don’t care for basketball or the players in it, but full props to him for realizing the value of a dollar and a good vehicle.

    Reply
  3. This Dude seems to be a different animal. Not really worried about the “ Lifestyle” of being a pro athlete. Seems more worried about being the best player in his league. And that is refreshing. I’m happy for him. And I like he drives older chevys.

    Reply
  4. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND THE TEAM BUT I HAVE TO SAY HE 100 THAT’S AH WONDERFUL THING FOR HIM TO REMAIN THE SAME I ALSO DRIVE A TAHOE 2002 LS AND IT STILL RUNS LIKE CHAMP!! CHAMP??

    Reply
  5. Hats off to him….he knows quality!!!! I have a 1998 Yukon SLT….Gr8888 truck, & no this one is NOT a gas guzzler, as a matter of fact it’s better on gas than my 2013 Black Diamond!

    Reply
  6. Im not a Raptors fan however I am also from So Cal’s IE area had no idea about the local boy made good and turned pro congrats to him and props on his common sense and humility which seems to be unique this day an age. I too still drive my OBS Chevy Tahoe which has 265k miles and counting…I love GM Trucks they arent the most economical in terms of MPG but in overall longevity and maintainance costs its is very affordable. Its Looks are classic and continues to Turn heads with it’s rugged and sleek timeless design.

    Reply
  7. it seems like more people expect pro athletes to act more like an adult than their president.

    Reply

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