Kawhi Leonard suddenly decided to smile this summer, which is delightful

Kawhi Leonard doesn’t smile; it’s not in his DNA. Not after the Spurs traded for him on draft night, not after he became the third-youngest Finals MVP ever, not after winning 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, and not after he emerged as the best two-way player in the NBA.

It just doesn’t happen, and maybe Tim Duncan’s to blame.

But this summer, something’s been different. Just like Carmelo Anthony has Hoodie Melo, deadpan Kawhi has been smiling all offseason. He doesn’t have the disposition of a man whose team was swept out of the Western Conference Finals.

Instead, he’s been so happy this summer, even Manu Ginobili doesn’t know what’s going on.

This calls for an investigation. Something isn’t right in San Antonio. Maybe it’s the water. Maybe it’s the air. Either way, we’re getting to the bottom of it:

Aug. 16: Kawhi smiles in a picture with 2 Chainz

Aug. 17: Kawhi smiles while guarding a picture of himself, not smiling

Aug. 18: Kawhi continues to smile all throughout his trip to Beijing

Aug. 19: Peak Kawhi laughter is reached

Aug. 20: Kawhi begrudgingly kinda smiles taking a selfie

Aug. 21: More smiles from Kawhi, the businessman, in China

Aug. 21: Kawhi Leonard is smiling in Texas, proving it’s not just Beijing or 2 Chainz

Look, there’s nothing wrong with being happy, and Kawhi has a lot to smile about. He’s the third-youngest Finals MVP ever, he’s one of the top five basketball players on the planet, he’s in the third year of a five-year, $94 million contract, and odds are he’s probably going to win at least one NBA championship, Defensive Player of the Year, or league MVP in the next five years.

It’s OK to smile. Just give us a heads up next time, man. You’ve scared some people.