Kawhi Leonard Is Playing Like It's May-And the League Can't Keep Up
For most players, flirting with a point-per-minute pace is the kind of thing that happens in short bursts-maybe a hot quarter, a breakout game, a week if you're lucky. But what Kawhi Leonard is doing right now?
It’s not a flash. It’s a full-on fire.
Over the last 13 games, Leonard has poured in 425 points in just 459 minutes. That’s nearly a point per minute-without forcing shots, without dominating the ball in a way that disrupts rhythm.
Just pure, efficient, methodical brilliance. And it’s not just about volume.
Leonard is leading the NBA in scoring over that stretch, and he’s doing it while shooting 50.7% from the field, 44.0% from three, and 91.6% from the line.
That kind of efficiency from your top scorer? That’s the dream.
And for the Clippers, it’s been the difference between a slow start and a mid-season surge. They've won 11 of those 13 games, riding Leonard’s wave of dominance.
This isn’t just a hot streak-it’s playoff Kawhi, showing up early and refusing to leave.
Leonard’s Numbers Are Eye-Popping, But the Context Makes Them Even Wilder
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about scoring. Leonard is taking more shots than anyone else on the Clippers during this stretch, and rightfully so.
He’s earning every touch with the kind of shot selection and execution that coaches drool over. There’s no shot-chucking here.
Just a masterclass in control-getting to his spots, reading the defense, and making the right play over and over again.
And while the Clippers’ overall record sits at 17-23, that doesn’t tell the full story. Over these last 13 games, they’ve been one of the hottest teams in the league. Leonard’s resurgence has flipped the narrative-and possibly their season.
At 34 years old, Leonard is playing arguably the best basketball of his career. That's not hyperbole.
That’s backed up by the numbers, the wins, and the eye test. He’s not just scoring more-he’s doing it with surgical precision, and on both ends of the floor.
Defense: The Part of Kawhi’s Game That Still Separates Him
We talk a lot about offensive production in MVP conversations-and rightfully so-but Leonard’s defense remains elite. While others are trying to keep up with his scoring pace, they’re nowhere near him on the other end.
He’s tallied 34 steals in those 459 minutes-tops in the league over that span. And these aren’t opportunistic, lucky deflections. Leonard is reading plays like a veteran cornerback-think Deion Sanders in his prime-anticipating passes, jumping lanes, and turning defense into offense with ruthless efficiency.
It’s that two-way dominance that makes this run so special. When Leonard is locked in like this, there’s no one quite like him. Not in this league.
MVP-Level Impact, Whether the Hype Is There Yet or Not
Tyrese Maxey has been fantastic for the Sixers. Luka Doncic continues to put up video game numbers. But right now, neither of them is doing what Kawhi Leonard is doing-on both ends, at this level, with this kind of efficiency.
If he keeps this up, the MVP conversation won’t just include Leonard-it might start with him.
For now, though, the Clippers are just enjoying the ride. Leonard has flipped the switch-and he’s keeping it on. If this is the version of Kawhi we’re going to see moving forward, the rest of the league better start paying attention.
Because playoff Kawhi has arrived. And it’s still January.