You are far more powerful than you realize! Kawhi graces the cover of a fashion magazine: The ultimate luxury is health

On June 24, Beijing time, Kawhi Leonard was featured on the cover of the latest *Haute Living* magazine issue. He participated in an exclusive interview with the fashion magazine. Below are the key points—

Speaking about his youth in basketball, Leonard confessed that his greatest regret at twelve was not having a mentor on his path. "I really wished I had someone to show me the way—ideally a college or NBA insider who could give me advice. I was learning everything from scratch. Back then I was young, living in Moreno Valley, with my father absent and no basketball-savvy elders around. If only I'd had a current college or NBA player to guide me in the right direction. But looking back, everything worked out just as it should."

Leonard said his entire basketball journey was self-taught, and what kept him going was an intense competitive drive. "I just had an insane desire to win." He revealed that as a child, he couldn't handle losing—he would habitually cry after a defeat. "As soon as the game ended and we lost, I would start crying right there. I'd think, 'How did we lose? I thought we were supposed to win every game.'"

As he grew older, his competitive spirit matured and became more balanced, and his mindset grew clearer and more rational. In his view, wins and losses are just part of a long season—one defeat shouldn't overshadow the whole picture. "The schedule is packed—finish one game and you're already preparing for the next. If I cried every time we lost, I'd never have reached the level I'm at now. Everything is part of the growth process. One loss doesn't mean we can't win the championship. At the start of the season, it's normal for a team to have ups and downs—going 5-5 in ten games is fine. The key is to keep improving and gradually raise the winning percentage. These days, I judge our team's performance only by whether we win the title and how much we grow as a unit."

On the discipline and sacrifices required in his career, Leonard stressed that discipline has never felt like a sacrifice—it's a path he chose willingly. "I actively make choices: today I won't hang out with friends; I'll stay and practice jump shots. Today I won't play video games or go to parties. To excel in any field, you need consistent discipline. The core is to actively block out all outside distractions." He has always kept a low profile, focused on himself, never deliberately chasing fame or creating buzz, pouring all his energy into honing his skills and improving himself.

In his mind, the ultimate luxury in life is never fame or success—it's health. "Without health, everything else is meaningless. Once you're sick and bedridden, there's so much you can no longer do. Whether it's yourself or your loved ones, being able to walk freely, run, talk, and be together for a long time—that's the most precious happiness."

Finally, Leonard shared his personal philosophy for navigating life. "Inner peace is the most important thing. No matter how things turn out—good or bad—you can't let it shake your calm. This composure isn't something you're born with; it's cultivated slowly, protected deliberately. There's no perfect game, and no smooth season. If your emotions are constantly tossed around by wins and losses, both the season and your life will be full of wasted energy." He has always worked quietly, accumulated silently—neither flashy nor attention-seeking—improving himself step by step, giving back to his hometown, and spreading strength through actions, proving the motto: You are far stronger than you think.

He has never made a big show of things, never performed for an audience—just built his world brick by brick, story by story, without fanfare. Throughout his entire career, Leonard has reminded the world: Do not mistake silence for emptiness.

Some people lead the way with a loud voice; others quietly build their own world. A court, a lesson, a story—day after day, until people look up and realize that everything he has created already stands there, peacefully.

Just as the words printed on his court say: You are far more powerful than you imagine yourself to be.