Philadelphia 76ers and Marvel: The Avengers as Sixers

Thanos: Kawhi Leonard

… but wait, there’s more!

I know. I feel you. Why’d you have to bring it up? Is this really necessary? The answer is yes. Because Kawhi Leonard is the perfect Thanos. A godly force driven not by greed and personal gain, not by flash and fame, but by a (deeply flawed and corrupt) moral compass.

Kawhi isn’t in the media. He’s just there, a looming presence who transcends personality. He just is. Flanked by a talented Raptors team, Kawhi gathered all six infinity stones last season. Health. Depth. Talent. Coaching. Timing. Luck. He proceeded to dust Philadelphia … then Milwaukee … then Golden State.

If we’re aligning the Sixers and the Avengers, it’s only fair to align their foremost challenger with Thanos. The first time around, Thanos won. He got the stones, he survived Stormbreaker in a last-second, four-bouncing rim shot, and he eliminated half of humanity (or, in our case, the Sixers).

But Infinity War wasn’t the last Marvel movie. In fact, neither was Endgame. But the point stands. The Avengers weren’t done, and Thanos eventually lost. It took sacrifice, guts and determination. But Thanos, however inevitable the first go-around felt, was not the final victor.

There’s a chance Philadelphia and Kawhi meet again next postseason. There’s a chance the Sixers get the opportunity for revenge on the biggest stage in basketball — the NBA Finals. Perhaps 2019-20 is the Sixers’ endgame.