A culture-changer and once fan-favorite for the LA Clippers, Patrick Beverley, spoke on the ongoing debate between two future Hall-of-Fame players, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant. Beverley provided reasoning that correlated to two-way impact, the mindset to win without joining a superteam, and what veterans around the league think, which ultimately sides with Leonard.
Patrick Beverley puts an end to the Kawhi Leonard/Kevin Durant debate:
— APHoops (@APH00PS) March 25, 2026
“To be up close and personal with Kawhi—to see how he impacts the game on both sides—I’m taking Kawhi. To win two championships in two different conferences, not go join the Monstars… I’m a huge KD fan. I… pic.twitter.com/6d8AY2GVKJ
Beverley did make it a point to mention that he’s a fan of Durant’s game. Rightfully so, how could one not be; he has two rings, four scoring titles, and is a 16-time All-Star, with a handful of other accomplishments on his mind-boggling resume.
But Beverley has been close to the game for quite some time. He’s seen both at their peak, one as a teammate and the other as an opponent. So, for him to end the debate by declaring Leonard better speaks volumes.
Kawhi Leonard’s great 2019 championship run is the winning factor
Patrick Beverley is not the only one who thinks Kawhi Leonard is better; fans of the LA Clippers do as well, along with millions worldwide. Why? Well, despite both having done legendary things throughout their careers, the 2019 title Leonard won is priceless in the history books and will always hold more value than Kevin Durant’s rings with the Golden State Warriors.
Leonard willed the Toronto Raptors through thick and thin. He legitimately had the basketball world at his fingertips with clutch performances, highlight-worthy plays, and just absolute dominance over some of the league’s best stars in the span of one run.
Describing how great Leonard was is impossible. There could be endless things said about him, as it’s one of those tales where the film has to do the talking; shockingly enough, his numbers, of 30.5 points and 9.1 rebounds across 24 games, don’t tell the full story.
Durant, on the other hand, opted to join one of the greatest teams ever assembled, with the mindset of cakewalking to the NBA Finals. That happened, and in all honesty, it worked.
A win is certainly a win, as some might like to claim. But, in comparison to Leonard, in terms of the level of difficulty he faced, it’s a fact that Durant had life much easier with the Warriors' iconic big three on his side.
That said, though Beverley may have spewed out a hot take, he’s right at the end of the day. Leonard should be held in higher regard, and it’s mostly because of the context behind his successes.