The Non-Big Three Star of Game 1 – Kawhi Leonard

(Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)

The 2013 NBA Finals are being billed as a battle of the "Big Three" of the Heat and Spurs.  And while you need a superstar(s) to win a title, you also need a strong supporting cast.  So The Hoops Manifesto will look to shine some light on these less heralded players with our "The Non-Big Three Star of the Game" award given out after every game of the Finals.

The Non-Big Three Star of Game 1:

Kawhi Leonard – San Antonio

35 minutes, 10 points (3-9 FG), 10 boards, 1 steal

It's hard to pick out a Non-Big Three star in a game where the Spurs big trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker & Manu Ginobili combine for 54 points, while LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade score 48, but we're going with Kawhi Leonard.  Not only did he keep LeBron in relative check (yes, James got a triple-double but only scored 18 points on 16 shots and only took four free throws), but he also recorded a double-double of his own. While Parker, Duncan and Ginobili were the stars of Game 1, Leonard quietly did the dirty work.  They'll need more of that as the series goes forward.