LA Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard receives high praise from NBA great
Since entering the league in 2011, LA Clippers franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard has solidified his resume as one of the best in the history of the NBA. During his time with the San Antonio Spurs, Leonard won his first NBA championship, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a Finals MVP. He followed up with another title and finals MVP in the only season he played for the Toronto Raptors.
Not to mention, Leonard has countless other accomplishments, such as All-Defensive teams, All-Star selections, All-NBA teams, and many more. While he may only be 31 years old, Leonard’s hall-of-fame resume paved the way for him to be selected on the NBA 75th anniversary team.
Furthermore, the Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, another NBA legend, ranked Leonard alongside some of the greatest small-forwards to ever play the game. Along with Durant and Leonard, this ‘Mount Rushmore’ consisted of two more greats, Larry Bird and LeBron James.
So my guy @KDTrey5 gave me his Mt Rushmore for Small forwards. So I made it clear he has to be on it obviously… check out the other 3 he picked.
— Chris Henderson (@See_Hendo) November 11, 2022
Watch the full interview here: https://t.co/wYeSkejPMR#NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/2KY1WIOZIF
Leonard’s resume will only strengthen throughout his time with the LA Clippers.
Following multiple historic playoff runs, it is safe to say that the LA Clippers have one of the league’s top talents in Kawhi Leonard. Along with his three-level scoring, Leonard’s lock-down defense is some of the best the NBA has ever seen. In addition, standing at 6’7″, 225 pounds, Leonard has the prototypical build of an All-Time great small forward.
Although Leonard took a few seasons to develop fully, he is averaging 19.2 points and 6.5 rebounds, shooting 49.3% from the field and 38.4% from three through 578 games. These numbers are outstanding, especially for a player who the Indiana Pacers drafted for his defensive attributes.
Moreover, Leonard also contributed to the Clippers’ momentous postseason run to the Western Conference Finals. Before he tore his ACL in game four versus the Utah Jazz, Leonard averaged over 30 points per game while shooting close to 60% from the field. If head coach Tyronn Lue had a healthy roster, the LA Clippers would have appeared in their first-ever NBA Finals.
Next. George works his magic in the Battle of LA as the Clippers take the win. dark
Additionally, since Leonard injured his ACL, he has been kept out of all but two games. As of right now, he is currently sidelined due to knee stiffness. However, Leonard is making progress as the season progresses. Lue and the LA Clippers will need a healthy version of Leonard if the franchise hopes to make history once again.