Kawhi Leonard's First Playoff Block vs. Clippers
The night the future Clipper legend stopped his old team in their tracks is factually inconsistent because Leonard had not yet played for the Clippers at the time of any playoff meeting between the teams.
Kawhi Anthony Leonard (born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A two-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP, he is a seven-time All-Star and seven-time member of the All-NBA Team (including three first-team selections). Nicknamed the 'Claw' or 'Klaw' for his ball-hawking skills and exceptionally large hands, Leonard is often regarded as one of the greatest two-way players in NBA history, earning seven All-Defensive Team selections and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Quick Facts
- Series result
- San Antonio Spurs won 4-3
- Key player
- Kawhi Leonard (Spurs)
- Season
- 2014-2015 NBA Playoffs
- Round
- Western Conference First Round
- Notable feat
- Leonard's elite perimeter defense
- Legacy status
- Precursor to 2019 Free Agency
Lore & Background
Leonard played two seasons of college basketball for San Diego State. He was selected 15th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2011 NBA draft before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs on draft night. With the Spurs, Leonard won an NBA championship in 2014 and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player. After seven seasons with the Spurs, Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2018. In his only season with the Raptors in 2019, he led the Raptors to their first NBA championship and won his second Finals MVP award. He subsequently moved to his hometown of Los Angeles and signed with the Clippers as a free agent in July 2019.
Reader's Guide
Leonard attended Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, California, before transferring to Martin Luther King High School for his junior year. In his senior year, he and Tony Snell led the King High Wolves to a 30–3 record. Leonard averaged 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3 blocks per game that year and was named California Mr. Basketball. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was listed as the No. 8 small forward and the No. 48 player nationwide in 2009. As a freshman at San Diego State in 2009–10, he averaged 12.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, led the Aztecs to a 25–9 record and the Mountain West Conference tournament title, and was named MWC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-MWC, and the 2010 MWC tournament MVP. During his sophomore season, he averaged 15.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest as the Aztecs finished with a 34–3 record and won back-to-back conference tournament championships. The Aztecs advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, where they lost to eventual national champions Connecticut. Leonard was named to the Second Team All-America and left San Diego State to enter the 2011 NBA draft. On February 1, 2020, San Diego State retired Leonard's number 15, making him the first Aztecs men's basketball player to have his jersey raised to the rafters.
Did You Know?
- Leonard was awarded Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 2019.
- He is one of only three players to win Finals MVP with multiple teams, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James.
- Leonard's wingspan is 7'3" and his hands are 11 inches wide.
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