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LA Clippers: Which supporting cast was Kawhi Leonard’s best?

By Ethan Smith

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – JANUARY 13: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs stand on the court during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 13, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JANUARY 13: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs stand on the court during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 13, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Number 4: 2015-2017 San Antonio Spurs

Best Supporting Player: LaMarcus Aldridge 

Record: 67-15 / 61-21

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Semifinals to Thunder 4-2 

2015-2017 was the time where the NBA was finally starting to notice Kawhi Leonard as a leader in the association as the Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili era was slowly coming to a close.

The Spurs finished an impressive 67-15 in 2015-2016, led by Leonard’s 21.2 points per game and help from new addition LaMarcus Aldridge, who averaged 18 points per game in his first season with the Spurs. Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili all contributed as well, but none of them were at the same level of play they were in their primes, but the supporting cast around a 24-year old Leonard was impressive.

Despite the impressive record, the Spurs once again saw an early playoff exit, losing to the Durant-led Thunder 4-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals. Tim Duncan would retire from the squad, virtually handing the reigns to the power forward position to Aldridge, and the Spurs would run it back with virtually the same cast and some minor additions and post another 60-win season.

Leonard had his best season to date at the time, posting 25.5 points per game and having one of the best defensive seasons of his career with 1.8 steals per game and nearly a block per game. Aldridge, Paul Gasol, and Parker all contributed 10-plus points per game and the Spurs ran through Memphis and Houston before getting swept by the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals and virtually ending the Kawhi Leonard era in San Antonio.

Both of these supporting casts were very impressive due to the fact that they gave Leonard some offense around him rather than just defensive input. Both teams ranked top-15 in points per game and top-10 in offensive efficiency, but neither was truly able to get it done like some of Leonard’s other teams.

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