Is Anunoby capable of developing into the next Kawhi Leonard?
Entering the league, Anunoby was often compared to Leonard. They have a similar physical profile. They are both strong defenders. Leonard is also a reserved person, who doesn’t communicate much with the media; as has been evident during the offseason. However, Leonard was a stronger scorer and rebounder. During Leonard’s last season in college he averaged 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
Joseph Treutlein of Draft Express wrote:
"“Kawhi Leonard’s stock is based primarily on his physical attributes, defensive abilities, and upside, so it’s not a huge surprise that he doesn’t fare very well from a purely statistical standpoint. His profile strongly indicates that he’s destined to play a complimentary role in the NBA, at least in his first few seasons.”"
Early in his career, Leonard was often compared to former Spur Bruce Bowen. They were both small forwards and All-NBA Defenders. However, Bowen was a limited offensive player. Most of his points came off spot-up three-pointers. Leonard quickly surpassed Bowen and has become one of the best two-way players in the entire Association.
Leonard has come a long way. As a rookie, Leonard averaged 7.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 24 minutes per game. One of Leonard’s biggest strengths has always been his defense. It’s well-known that Leonard is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. But what is often overlooked is his offensive game.
Leonard is a tireless worker. He has improved every year that he has been in the league. Most notably, Leonard has become a better shooter. In two seasons at San Diego State, he shot 25 percent from three-point range. In the NBA, Leonard is a career 38.6 percent shooter from long distance.
Ball handling is another area where Leonard has improved. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor and create opportunities for himself or his teammates. No longer is Leonard a complimentary player. He is a superstar. During the 2016-17 Season Leonard averaged 25.5 points per game. In 2016, Leonard finished second in MVP voting behind Steph Curry. In 2017, Leonard finished third.
Leonard is an outlier. No one expected him to be this good, not even the Spurs. If it was obvious that Leonard would become one of the best players in the NBA, he would not have dropped to the number 15 pick in the draft. As such, expecting Anunoby to develop into Leonard may be unrealistic and unfair.
Anunoby has the most upside of any young player on the Raptors’ roster. He has the potential to become one of the best perimeter defenders in the entire NBA. He is also a very good three-point shooter. Last season, Anunoby hit on 37.1 percent of his attempts from long distance. In order to take the next step, Anunoby must work on his ball handling and become a threat to score off the dribble.
The Raptors tried to feature Anunoby more on offense during summer league. The results were mixed. Anunoby wasn’t a go-to scorer in college, nor was that his role last season with the Raptors. It will take some time for Anunoby to develop more of an offensive repertoire.
If Anunoby isn’t going to magically turn into Kawhi Leonard next season, what player is a good comparison for him?