Kawhi Leonard has gone on one of the greatest postseason runs in NBA history this year. If the Toronto Raptors get the job done and win their first NBA Championship, Leonard can secure his status as the best player in the world.
When the Toronto Raptors traded for Kawhi Leonard back in July, they knew they would be receiving a player worthy of top 10 status in the league. Two years prior, Leonard was in the running for the MVP vote, finishing third in the voting behind Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Leonard only played nine games the following season and a lack of trust towards the San Antonio Spurs front office saw their relationship fracture beyond repair. In stepped Masai Ujiri, who swooped in made a franchise-altering deal, picking up Leonard and Danny Green while trading away long-time Raptors hero DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl.
And now, 10 months later, we’re witnessing one of the greatest postseason runs of all-time by Leonard, who has led the Toronto Raptors to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Leonard has averaged 31.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game across 18 games in the playoffs, all while averaging on outrageous 62-percent true-shooting percentage. Along the way, we’ve seen someone dazzling performances in big games, and one of the greatest shots in NBA history — a Game 7 buzzer-beater to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
Up next for Leonard and the Raptors are the two-time defending champion, Golden State Warriors, a team that has become the next great dynasty in the NBA over the last half-decade. Led by Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, the Warriors have put the sword into all who challenge them for the past two seasons, and now the Raptors are the next contenders for the throne.
Personal achievements don’t seem to be high on the list of Leonard’s priorities, but a strong playoff run followed by leading the Raptors to a title could cement his place as the best player on the planet right now.
Sure, Kawhi won’t win MVP. His regular season was strong, but only featuring in 62 games won’t help his cause and the performances of Giannis Antetokoumpo and Harden are too strong to overlook. Both players were head and shoulders above all of the competition in the regular season.
But that was the regular season. Championships aren’t won in the regular season.
The playoffs are a completely different monster and not everyone has the nerve to survive in the biggest moments of all. The Warriors have a plethora of players who know what it takes. Kevin Durant is a back-to-back Finals MVP looking to threepeat. Steph Curry, despite the narrative surrounding his playoff performances, is still a clutch performer and the greatest shooter of all-time.
Leonard has also proved this year, and in previous years, that he’s able to handle the big moments in games. Back in 2014, Kawhi was the Finals MVP as the San Antonio Spurs took down the LeBron James led Miami Heat in four games.
With James missing out on the playoffs in his first season in L.A., his status as the best player in the world is on hold, for now at least. Someone else needs to take the mantle.
Durant has proven time and time again to be that guy, taking over against Lebron and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the previous two finals. Though, his availability in the Finals is currently sketchy and is set to miss Game 1 on Thursday night.
Kevin Durant is officially out for Game 1 of the Finals. pic.twitter.com/I9gBBmIyz5
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) May 27, 2019
The stage is set for Leonard, the greatest player in Toronto Raptors history, to take over. The Raptors are viewed as the underdogs despite owning homecourt advantage and taking down the Milwaukee Bucks in six games, winning four straight. The Bucks hadn’t lost four games in a row since 2017. They had only lost two in a row once this season.
If the Raptors can force their way to victory, there’s no doubt that Leonard will be the center of attention. Leading Toronto to their first ever title in his first season with the team, Kawhi can truly cement his status as the best basketball player in the world. Though he probably has that title already.