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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 – JUNE 11: San Antonio Spurs players Manu Ginobili #20, Kawhi Leonard #2 and Tim Duncan #21 celebrate while playing the Miami Heat during Game Three of the 2013 NBA Finals on June 11, 2013 at 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 2013 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 11: San Antonio Spurs players Manu Ginobili #20, Kawhi Leonard #2 and Tim Duncan #21 celebrate while playing the Miami Heat during Game Three of the 2013 NBA Finals on June 11, 2013 at 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 2013 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Number 2: 2012-2014 San Antonio Spurs

Best Supporting Player: Tim Duncan 

Record: 58-24 /62-20

Playoffs: Lost NBA Finals 4-3 to Miami Heat / Won NBA Finals 4-1 over Miami Heat

The Spurs and Heat channeled their inner Celtics and Lakers in back-to-back NBA Finals in some of the best sets of games fans saw in years.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen shocked the Spurs in seven games. The Spurs had five players in double-figures in the Finals, which included Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Manu Ginobili. The team was amazing but fell short to LeBron, but they weren’t done.

Kawhi Leonard puts himself on the map. We all remember watching a young Kawhi Leonard go head-to-head against LeBron James and virtually dominate the game in and game out en route to winning the first of two Finals MVPs over the course of his career so far.

But this series was a lot less about Leonard and much more about the team he had around him because he wasn’t even the best player on the roster.

Tony Parker and Tim Duncan were absolutely dominant all season and Manu did Manu things all season, pouring in three after three game-after-game. Six players including Leonard averaged more than 10-points per game over the course of the season and the defensive efficiency from the squad as a whole was unmatched.

To get even more of an idea of how dominant this Spurs team was, they ranked first in win and margin of victory, top-10 in efficiency and third in defensive efficiency. They also ranked top-ten in points per game and points allowed per game. Seven playoff losses also sound pretty unmatched as well when winning 16 of 23 contests.

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