Los Angeles Clippers superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard is the closest thing to Chicago Bulls legend and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan at the moment.

That's at least what ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith thinks.

“I would say that player is Kawhi Leonard,” said Stephen A. Smith. “That is the closest athlete to Michael Jordan right now.”

Because of his mastery of the mid-range game, Leonard often times resembles Jordan on the court since MJ used to feast in that area of the floor.

“I am not saying he's the best because you know I don't feel he is,” added Smith. “I think it's LeBron. But LeBron is a different kind of player than Michael Jordan was… Kawhi Leonard either scores or he defends. He doesn't necessarily make players around him better, he's just about putting the ball in the hole. And as I watch him, from a style perspective solely, how he approaches the game and what he does on the basketball court, I think right now he's a lot like Michael Jordan.”

Leonard is also a stellar defender like Jordan was. The Clippers star won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards with the San Antonio Spurs. To recall, Jordan won the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year Award with the Bulls. His Airness made the All-Defensive squad nine times during his illustrious career.

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Before the 2019-20 season was suspended because of the coronavirus, Leonard was averaging 26.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for the Clippers. The two-time Finals MVP and new franchise player for the Clippers was shooting 46.9 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from beyond the arc and 88.9 percent from the free-throw line.

The Clippers were in second place in the Western Conference standings with a record of 44-20. Only LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers had a better record out West than the Clippers, although the Clips did go 2-1 against the Lakers before play was suspended.

It's highly doubtful any player is going to ever match Jordan's Finals prowess of going 6-0 and capturing six Finals MVPs. However, there's no denying that Leonard plays a lot like Mike.