In the NBA, some players are more skilled offensively, while others are more skilled on the defensive side. Then there are a select few who dominate on both ends of the floor. Kawhi Leonard is one such player who belongs to this category of elite athletes.
The two-time NBA champion is also the winner of two NBA Finals MVPs, in 2014 and 2019. Leonard is a five-time All-Star and is one of the best two-way players in the league. He has won two NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 2015 and 2016.
The 6 foot 7 inch small forward has shown how learning is always a part of this beautiful game. Entering his rookie season in the league in 2011, the Los Angeles native was mostly a well-rounded defensive player with his offense taking time to get going. However, he has steadily improved on that and today he is one player who is feared on both sides of the court.
Kawhi Leonard 40 Point Games
Kawhi Leonard has a total of 12 40-point games in his career as of October 2023 (seven in the regular season and five in the playoffs. Initially known for his defense rather than his scoring prowess, “The Klaw” has come a long way in becoming a star on both ends of the court. As it took him some time to become an effective two-way player, his first 40-point game came in 2017, when he dropped 41 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Leonard’s highest points tally in the playoffs was 45, which he achieved against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
| Date | Team | Opponent | Points |
| January 21, 2017 | San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers | 41 |
| January 1, 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Utah Jazz | 45 |
| January 13, 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Washington Wizards | 41 |
| December 13, 2029 | Los Angeles Clippers | Minnesota Timberwolves | 42 |
| January 14, 2020 | Los Angeles Clippers | Cleveland Cavaliers | 43 |
| February 24, 2023 | Los Angeles Clippers | Sacramento Kings | 44 |
| April 1, 2023 | Los Angeles Clippers | New Orleans Pelicans | 40 |
Kawhi Leonard Team
Kawhi Leonard currently plays for his hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers. He joined the Clippers back in 2019 as a free agent. Unfortunately for him and the franchise, his health, especially in the postseason, has been a huge concern and probably the biggest road-block in reaching the NBA Finals.
Over the course of four years in Los Angeles, Leonard was healthy in the 2019-20 season, but he played poorly in Game 7 of the conference semifinals as the Clippers lost the series to the Denver Nuggets, despite having a 3-1 lead.
The next season, Leonard got injured in the conference semifinals against the Phoenix Suns, bringing an end to his campaign after he had a partial tear in his ACL. As a result of which he missed the entire 2021-22 season.
Having made a comeback in the 2022-23 season, the Clippers once again found themselves in the playoffs. This time though, it was in the first round of the playoffs that Leonard tore the meniscus in his right knee. Missing the rest of the series, the Clippers were eliminated once again by the Suns.
FAQs
A. Kawhi Leonard is 32 years old. He was born on June 29, 1991.
A. Kawhi Leonard went to Canyon Springs High School before transferring to Martin Luther King High School.
A. Kawhi Leonard is not yet married, however he is in a long term relationship with Kishele Shipley.
A. Kawhi Leonard has yet to have a 50-point game in the NBA. His highest score thus far is 45.
A. Kawhi Leonard is 6 feet 7 inches tall.
