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Toronto Raptors: Where does Kawhi Leonard rank in the M.V.P race?

By Thomas Valentine

PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the National Anthem on December 14, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the National Anthem on December 14, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 16: Nikola Jokic #15 and Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets guard Kawhi Leonard #2 the Toronto Raptors at the Pepsi Center on December 16, 2018, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Midway through his first season with the Toronto Raptors, Kawhi Leonard is playing himself into M.V.P consideration. Where does Kawhi rank in the race for the top honors, though?

We’ve recently passed the half season mark of the 2018-19 NBA season, and much like last season, the Raptors are vying for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Though, there’s a clear difference between this season’s team and last years iteration of the Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard arrived from San Antonio in the off-season along with Danny Green, he was immediately viewed as an upgrade from former star player DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan is a fabulous player who has worked hard to perfect his craft, though he still remains a limited offensive product in terms of stretching the floor and a negative on the defensive end of the court. The trade was chastised for the manner in which it went down, Leonard was also viewed as an unknown quantity as far as the extent of his injury went, the Raptors took a gamble on the swingman superstar. It’s safe to say that the risk has paid off.

Leonard has played in (only) 39 games this year, he’s rested on the second night of back-to-backs but has looked unstoppable every time he sets foot on the floor for Toronto. Averaging a career-high 27.6 points per game on 61-percent true shooting, Leonard has been a shining light in a superb season for the Raptors thus far, shoehorning his way into M.V.P consideration.

However, there’s a host of worthy candidates this year. So, where does Kawhi rank among them?

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