Aztecs’ Leonard trained on NBA

Like an eager new employee, Kawhi Leonard showed up 10 minutes early to work Tuesday.

His job: be the best basketball player he can be between now and June 23, when the former San Diego State star is projected to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft.

"That's all I'm focusing on," the 6-foot-7-inch forward said. "I'm trying to give myself the best chance to make a good impression."

That's why Leonard and 30 other potential draftees are paying Joe Abunassar $1,000 a week to work out at Impact Basketball on East Sunset Road.

Leonard puts in a full day: shooting drills, weightlifting, cardio work and a full-court scrimmage with the other attendees, including former Aztecs teammate Billy White.

"It's helped me a lot," said Leonard, who has spent three weeks in Las Vegas. "There's a transition from college to the NBA, just like there was from high school to college, and Joe is helping me make the transition easier."

Abunassar, a former student manager at Indiana under then-coach Bob Knight, has been in the basketball development business for 15 years, the last seven in Las Vegas.

He said he spotted a flaw in Leonard's shooting form and has helped him develop more consistency and range by getting him not to drop his hands while preparing to shoot.

"Guys have different needs," Abunassar said. "In Kawhi's case, we shortened his approach, and it's helped him tremendously."

The predraft evaluation process has changed dramatically in recent years. A potential draftee's college career and predraft combine performance are only part of the equation. The critical element is visiting a team for a private workout.

Abunassar knows what teams are looking for and tailors the workouts at Impact to mirror what a player can expect at a private team workout. In addition to Las Vegas, Abunassar has workout facilities in Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Novi, Mich., to accommodate the growing number of players who seek his help.

"It has totally changed," Abunassar said. "The (team) workouts have become everything. We tell the guys who come to us they have to be in great shape, be ready to work hard and try to get better."

Corey Fisher hopes to show an NBA team that he's worthy of being drafted. The 6-1 point guard from Villanova is projected as a late second-round pick.

"I've been here about a month," Fisher said. "My agent suggested I come out here, and I think I've gotten better. My body's better. My jump shot's better. Overall, I feel like I'm in great shape."

Fisher will get an idea of how much progress he has made today when he works out for the Indiana Pacers.

Leonard's first stop will be next week in Charlotte, N.C., to work out for the Bobcats.

The players know that everything they do on and off the court will be scrutinized. It's not just about making an NBA-range 3-pointer or an unselfish pass.

"We try to prepare them for everything," Abunassar said. "That includes taking care of their bodies properly, making sure they get enough rest, what they eat. We go over everything with them."

While Leonard knows he will be drafted in the first round, White's future is more uncertain.

"There's a lot of good competition here," the former Green Valley High star said. "You're going up against really good players so you have no choice but to work hard if you want to keep up.

"It's helped me already. I feel like I'm in better shape and my all-around game is sharper. I'm hopeful it will pay off for me (at the draft)."

Abunassar has a long list of clients who have benefited from his services over the years, from Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Chauncey Billups to Kevin Love and O.J. Mayo.

Now comes the next wave, led by Leonard, who took probably 200 shots in his 70-minute individual workout with Abunassar on Tuesday and was physically spent afterward.

But a few minutes later, Leonard was back on the job, sweating in the weight and conditioning room on the second floor.

In this job, there are no coffee breaks. Time truly is money.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.