San Antonio Spurs: 5 Best Spurs Players since 2000

#2 Kawhi Leonard (2011-2018)

San Antonio Spurs' most recent superstar had a falling out

Kawhi Leonard has been the San Antonio Spurs' most recent superstar and was considered the type of player that was perfect for the Spurs: a superb 2 way player, a 3 and D wing that had an amazing offensive game and was just as good, if not better, on the defensive end. He earned himself the nickname "the Klaw".

He was drafted by the Indiana Pacers as the 15th pick in the 2011 draft but was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. His rookie season and consequent two seasons were not great as he was dealing with niggling injuries and slowly was improving. He exploded in the 2013-14 season, leading the Spurs from the front with his superb shooting numbers and amazing defensive work.

They faced the Miami Heat in the finals and beat them in a 5 game series, with Kawhi Leonard winning the NBA finals MVP. He was the 3rd youngest player to win it, and the first since Chauncey Billups to win it and not be a part of the All Star team. From then, his game only got better and he won the defensive player of the year in 2014-15, but could not lead the Spurs to another NBA title.

He is a 3 time NBA All Star, a 2 time All NBA First team selection, 2 time NBA defensive player of the year. If he had not had a falling out with the Spurs and been traded away, he would have had a shot at becoming the best Spurs player in the modern era.