Kawhi Leonard
Raptors Championship (2019) · 2019
Leonard's elite Defense (94) and elite Scoring (90) define this era.
Trophy Case
2014, 2019
2014 Finals MVP with the Spurs, 2019 with Toronto — two different franchises
2014, 2019
2014 at age 22 with the Spurs, 2019 carrying Toronto — two different franchises
2015, 2016
Back-to-back — lockdown perimeter defense with elite steal rate
2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021
5 selections — would have more without chronic injuries
2016, 2017, 2021
3 selections — would have more without chronic injuries
Signature Moments
The Shot — Game 7 vs Sixers
Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semis. Kawhi caught the ball in the corner, rose up over Joel Embiid, and launched a high-arcing shot that hit the rim four times before dropping in. The ball bounced once, twice, three times, four times — while an entire arena held its breath. It was the first buzzer-beating Game 7 winner in NBA playoff history.
Four bounces. The most dramatic shot in playoff history. Kawhi's face barely changed. That's the scariest part.
2019 Championship — The Raptors Run
Kawhi joined Toronto for one season, then led them to their first championship — beating the Warriors dynasty. He averaged 28.5 points in the playoffs and won Finals MVP. He did it while playing through a torn quad that required treatment between every quarter.
He showed up for one year, won the whole thing on a torn quad, and left. The most mercenary championship run in modern NBA history.
Locking Down LeBron — 2014 Finals
As a 22-year-old, Kawhi guarded LeBron James in the 2014 Finals and held him to his worst shooting Finals in years. Kawhi won Finals MVP — the youngest since Magic Johnson in 1980. The Spurs destroyed the Heat in 5 games. Kawhi announced himself as a superstar.
He was 22 years old and he outplayed LeBron in the Finals. The basketball world realized: this quiet kid is a killer.
Career Numbers
Playoff PPG
2019 playoffs: 30.5 PPG — carried Raptors to first championship
21.4
Field Goal %
.497
Points Per Game
Career average
20.0
Rebounds Per Game
6.4
Steals Per Game
2x DPOY
1.7
Season Stats · Raptors Championship (2019)
Engine Attributes
Fan Debate
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