For a game or two, if Kawhi Leonard logged a minutes count that came close to the amount of points he was scoring, fans of the NBA worldwide would be in awe. It is nothing new, yet it is still a remarkable mid-season accomplishment that should be noted.
However, over the last 13 games, Leonard has posted 425 points (league leader) in 459 minutes. That is as close to one point per minute as a superstar can get, and the two-time champion has consistently done it, game by game, without shot-chucking.
Sure, Leonard leads the LA Clippers by a wide margin in field-goal attempts during this span, but it is for good reason, as he has shot 50.7% from the field, 44.0% from a distance, and 91.6% from beyond the arc.
Leonard is delivering through the impossible, and the LA Clippers have capitalized on it, with 11 wins. Thus, everyone is shocked that playoff-Leonard made an early appearance in December and has not slowed down since.
No other player in the NBA is on the same level as Kawhi Leonard has been
The LA Clippers’ 17-23 record immediately conveys a negative, losing connotation, but their last 13 games are currently the NBA's best story. While the Oklahoma City Thunder certainly are not happy with the results for draft purposes, it has been a joy for the basketball community to watch Kawhi Leonard play the best ball of his career at 34.
Moreover, some of the best scorers in the league are playing catch-up, as Leonard is so far ahead that his competition is in the dust. Tyrese Maxey, who is behind the two-time champion in points over the 13-game stretch, has scored 374 points in 502 minutes.
This is excellent for him and the Philadelphia 76ers, yet it boldly signifies the historical run Leonard has put together.
Additionally, where Maxey and others behind, like Luka Doncic, cannot be compared with Leonard is on defense. The two-time defensive player of the year has notched 34 steals in the 459 minutes he has played, which also leads the NBA.
These steals are not just luck; he is on the court like ‘Primetime’ Deion Sanders, anticipating the ball and making plays with precision.
That said, if Leonard maintains the playoff version of himself throughout the foreseeable future, he will enter the MVP discussion. This is a perfect example of what defying the odds can do,.