Through back-to-back seasons, in 2016 and 2017, Kawhi Leonard finished the year as an MVP Finalist. Though he did not win, having done so was still an accomplishment. Since then, Leonard has performed at a high level, made countless All-Star teams, and broken records, but he has never been top three in voting for the NBA’s most prestigious award; that must change this season, at 34, in a stage of his career where everyone thought his peak was long gone.
The typical NBA fan may feel weird seeing Leonard’s name in the discussion. Understandably so, and also why the common assumption was that the ship, on his best days, had left the dock, is due to his severe injury history. It seemed impossible for anyone in the sports industry to bounce back in such a manner.
However, 44 games into Leonard’s 14th season, and it is a fact: his current version is one-of-one, and despite the LA Clippers’ record of 27-30, he deserves to be in the MVP race.
Kawhi Leonard’s name should be regarded just as highly as those at the top
Could Kawhi Leonard take home his first Most Valuable Player trophy in his mid-30s? Possibly. There is still a lot to be told between now and the awards ceremony, as Leonard can only miss four more games, yet his scoring and two-way excellence must merit the same recognition as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, and Luka Doncic.
While he may not be winning as much, Leonard is averaging 28.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, shooting 49.4% from the field, 38.1% from beyond the arc, and 90.5% from the charity stripe.
Leonard’s scoring stands out, given it is the highest of his superb career, but this statistic is a product of his 36-game streak of 20+ points. In the same breath, he has shown no signs of it coming to an end.
Additionally, Leonard has recently given Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves 41 points, 31 to Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers, 37 to the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic, and had social media losing their minds with 31 in 12 minutes during All-Star weekend.
That said, how could one exclude him from the MVP debate? He has been way too good to be overlooked, similarly to Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Wembanyama. Thus, the heavily sought-after hardware should be up for grabs, even if he has not been expected to take it home for roughly a decade.