Kawahi Leonard Healthy, Top 3-4 player of all time

DorianRo · Post #1 » by **DorianRo** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:26 pm

Never seen a dude that could literally miss like 5 years with injuries and come back like he never missed a beat. Imagine if he stayed healthy and consistent his whole career. Would have had the best career/resume post MJ most likely. Hes elite on both ends

Jaivl · Post #2 » by **Jaivl** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:41 pm

Ricky Rubio on a timeline where people stop growing at 14, top 3-4 player of all time.

Now seriously, he would not be, IMO. Don't think he's clearly better than Jokic, Giannis.

Peregrine01 · Post #3 » by **Peregrine01** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 9:01 pm

Durability is as much a physical quality as height, strength and quickness are. Kawhi has basically not played a full season in almost 10 years.

Peregrine01 · Post #4 » by **Peregrine01** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 9:01 pm

Jaivl wrote:Ricky Rubio on a timeline where people stop growing at 14, top 3-4 player of all time.

Now seriously, he would not be, IMO. Don't think he's clearly better than Jokic, Giannis.

Steph Curry at Bron’s height is clearly the GOAT.

1993Playoffs · Post #5 » by **1993Playoffs** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 9:05 pm

He’s insanely good and probably better than a lot of players when healthy but no.

DorianRo · Post #6 » by **DorianRo** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 9:07 pm

The little he has played he won 2 chips and 2 FMVP's, 2 DPOY. Something should be said for that. Hes been healthy 10 percent of the time and has managed that

EmpireFalls · Post #7 » by **EmpireFalls** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 9:16 pm

Even healthy the only real chips I see for him are 2021, maybe 2022?

He was healthy until 2017, and even if he was playing, they weren’t winning vs the KD Warriors. He was healthy and choked a 3-1 lead in 2020. And then there were other injuries to his team in 2021, 2023, and 2024..

One_and_Done · Post #8 » by **One_and_Done** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:23 pm

He'd be better than Jordan, but not sure that'd make him top 3-4. Peak to peak he already surpasses Jordan.

jalengreen · Post #9 » by **jalengreen** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:37 pm

I found myself praying for the ball to not be in his hands down the stretch today which leads me to think that the answer might be no

One_and_Done · Post #10 » by **One_and_Done** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:41 pm

jalengreen wrote:I found myself praying for the ball to not be in his hands down the stretch today which leads me to think that the answer might be no

Prime Kawhi was an incredible clutch player. Opposing players used to ask if he ever missed contested midrangers he was so accurate. Reddick, on the Lowe Post, said he was one of the only perimeter defenders who could change the game, expressing astonishment at how good he was. In the 2013 finals, Lebron shook his head in frustration when he saw Kawhi checking back in and swore under his breath. Kawhi turned around the Bucks series in 2019 by guarding Giannis himself. In the 2017 Memphis series he appeared to have an out of body experience he was hitting so many clutch shots. At first I was sceptical, but I now think the Spurs win the 2017 title if Kawhi hadn't been taken out by Zaza.

A small sample of game winners below:
https://youtu.be/F8zyxCGGPk8?si=Sw9KhTwZqw46GdYe

f4p · Post #11 » by **f4p** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 9:32 pm

Fully healthy for 12 plus years, I think that would get him over magic for me and I have magic 4th so I think so.

DirtyDez · Post #12 » by **DirtyDez** » Sun Apr 20, 2025 9:54 pm

You could make a case he’d only behind LeBron and Bird as forwards go.