Kawhi Leonard is not your typical NBA superstar thanks to his demeanor, but he is typical due to the fact that he is the owner of a number of very impressive records in the league. While Leonard didn't come into the league with a lot of fanfare, he has since blossomed into one of the most elite players in the game.
That 2018-19 season for Leonard was nothing short of epic. He etched his name in history by taking the Raptors to the very pinnacle of the sport, bringing them their first NBA championship in franchise history. Along the way, Kawhi Leonard set a few records too, and we will be taking a quick look at some of the more memorable ones here today.
1. Finals MVP
Leonard has won Finals MVP twice in his career. The first time was in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs, followed by his 2019 win with the Toronto Raptors.
More than a few guys have won Finals MVP on more than one occasion. As a matter of fact, the great Michael Jordan holds the record with six wins. That's probably not a record Leonard is going to be beating in his career, but by winning the award with the Spurs and Raptors, Leonard became only the third player in NBA history to win Finals MVP with two different teams. The other two are LeBron James (Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers).
2. Finals MVP + All-Star MVP + DPOY
As mentioned, Kawhi Leonard has two Finals MVPs to his name. Leonard has also won Defensive Player of the Year twice (2015, 2016) in his career. He added All-Star Game MVP to his list in his first season with the Los Angeles Clippers, making history in the process.
Only one other player has won Finals MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in their career: Michael Jordan.
3. Most times scoring 30+ points in a single postseason for the Raptors
Toronto's championship-winning run during the 2019 playoffs was nothing short of magical. In the thick of it all was Kawhi Leonard, who himself willed the team to series victories over the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers (he hit the amazing game-winner in Game 7 of that series), Milwaukee Bucks (led by league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo), and Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Leonard was an unstoppable force throughout the postseason, and testament to this fact is how he shattered the Raptors franchise record of most games with at least 30 points in a single playoff run. The previous record sat at five games, which Kawhi surpassed in the second round of the playoffs. He ended up with 14 by the time the Raptors lifted the title.
What's amazing is that he did this in just one season with the franchise.
4. Most points scored in a single postseason
That aforementioned scoring barrage by Leonard in the 2019 playoffs was enough to set another scoring record for Kawhi.
By the time it was all said and done, he amassed a grand total of 732 points in the span of 24 games played. That put him third on the all-time leaderboard of most points scored in a single postseason. He trails only Jordan (759) and LeBron (748), while the other two guys in the top five are Hakeem Olajuown (725) and Allen Iverson (723). The only two active players in the top 10 are LeBron and Leonard.
If you were looking for proof of how prolific a scorer Leonard is — especially when it matters most — then look no further.
5. Best laugh ever in the NBA
Now this is not an official title the NBA actually hands out, but be that as it may, there is still no denying that Kawhi Leonard is the proud owner of the best laugh in league history. For anyone who somehow failed to come across this iconic feature of his, here it is for your viewing pleasure:
That never gets old. If that was not enough hilarity for you, then check out this side-splitting clip of Hollywood actor Kevin Hart laughing his heart out while watching Leonard:
Proving that he is indeed a fun guy, Leonard did quite a self-deprecating bit during the Raptors' championship celebration in Toronto:
That literally got the whole Raptors team off their seats. One thing you can say for certain is that Kawhi Leonard is unlike anybody else we've ever seen in the NBA, and there's a good chance he'll be setting more records before his career comes to a close. The Clippers are certainly hoping that's the case.
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