An offensive game built from a dominant, mechanically crafted midrange jumper signaled to the world that the franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard was about to enter his prime. He was always great in the paint, but he inevitably got better year after year and used it to win a championship with the Toronto Raptors. This run in 2019 contained arguably the most iconic game-winner in history, unsurprisingly, a cold-blooded 15-foot jumper.
Despite being older, Leonard's midrange is still the best in the NBA. He can consistently drill turnaround fadeaways from all sorts of directions, which ultimately freezes the defense because there is no way to keep him still.
Furthermore, head coach Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers uses Leonard's strengths to start-up the offense. This is ultimately executed to perfection by none other than the superstar guard, James Harden.
The connection between these two is seemingly magical, as they know the precise location the other will be at without even looking. This sets Leonard up in isolation to go to work in the post.
Kawhi Leonard's midrange prowess makes the LA Clippers even more potent for the playoffs
Kawhi Leonard's roots, since he was a San Diego State Aztec, have been grounded in the midrange. He is simply an All-NBA talent, and Leonard's jumper is unblockable because he rises to such an elevation. This emphasizes how the LA Clippers will seize opponents in the postseason.
In 34 games, Leonard has scratched 21.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 49.6% from the floor, and 40.5% from three.
Additionally, Leonard shoots 16.5 total attempts per night. This is about moderate for him, but what raises eyebrows is that nearly a quarter of those tries are in the midrange zone, where he shoots 48.5%.
Close to fifty percent is a high figure, and to show the superstar before games, NBA writer Tomer Azarly filmed him going automatic in warmups with trainers putting their hands up to contest.
1:20 of Kawhi Leonard not missing a single mid-range jumper before Clippers-Rockets. pic.twitter.com/HQlPAAjKx2
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 10, 2025
Context also matters, as Leonard's efficiency was a process Clipper Nation caught a glimpse of right before their very eyes. He has come a long way since day one against the Atlanta Hawks.
Moreover, he had nights where he would shoot under 40%, but Leonard's improvements overlook them.
That said, Leonard can shoot the three-ball, but with a fiery, persistent midrange playstyle, the Clippers are as big of a threat as anyone coming out of the Western Conference.