Is Kawhi Leonard clearly a better player than Kevin Durant?

[Drygon]

Both Kawhi & KD are fantastic players in their own right. But when they're compared eachother, people says KD is far superior than Kawhi without going into further details. Which doesn't really make sense at al...

**The true testamente of a player's legacy is not about whatever they accomplish during regular season. A player's career, status & reputation is determined on how well he performs in the playoffs because the pressure is at all-time high.**

Since Kawhi broke out as the 1st option for Spurs in 2015 playoffs, he has outperformed KD when the latter didn't have a 73-9 GSW supporting cast.

Both are amazing scorers, but Kawhi is more efficient from anywhere on the court with higher TS%. Kawhi is also a better defender + more impactful on court going by advanced stats.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of what KD & Kawhi have done in playoffs.


------------------------------


Kawhi Leonard at Spurs/Raptors/Clippers (2015-2020)

Playoffs

- 27.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.0 APG. 0.8 BPG, 1.9 SPG
- 49.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 87.6 FT% on 61.6 TS% (25.1% of 2Ps & 88.3% of 3Ps assisted)
- 0.248 WS/48
- 7.4 OBPM
- 2.9 DBPM
- 10.3 BPM
- 7.6 VORP
- 1 Ring
- 1 Finals MVP


-------------------------------------------


Kevin Durant at Oklahoma City Thunder (2010-2016)

Playoffs

- 28.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 BPG, 1.1 SPG
- 45.5 FG%, 32.9 3P%, 84.8 FT% on 57.5 TS% (46.2% of 2Ps & 73.9% of 3Ps assisted)
- 0.177 WS/48
- 5.9 OBPM
- 0.4 DBPM
- 6.3 BPM
- 8.0 VORP
- 0 Rings
- 0 Finals MVPs

[SouBeachTalents]

Clearly? Obviously not

[NBAGOAT]

you cant just not list the stats for the gs years even though it's a very easy situation. He's just a better player those years than he was 2010 and 2011 at least. also kawhi has always played on pretty great teams.

[TheGoatest]

He is the 4th best player this generation:

1. LeBron
2. Durant
3. Curry
4. Kawhi

[Axe]

If curry has no fmvps, then kawhit has no ____.

[TheCorporation]

He is the 4th best player this generation:

1. LeBron
2. Durant
3. Curry
4. Kawhi

And there it is. That was easy.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Yes because he's the same player but with better defense, rebounding, physical and mental toughness.

[Stanley Kobrick]

both have blown 3-1 leads. but only one has blown 3-1 with HCA vs Brian Windhorst

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Healthy and at his best I would take Kawhi over KD. KD more longevity and higher all-time though. Kawhi is only like a 5-time all-star...pretty crazy

[SATAN]

Yeah I find it hard to even compare because as RMOR said, Kawit had finally reached his peak within the past couple of seasons meanwhile Durant has been consistently great for many years. Not to mention they don't play very alike either.

[Basketball r Us]

Nope.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

you cant just not list the stats for the gs years even though it's a very easy situation. He's just a better player those years than he was 2010 and 2011 at least. also kawhi has always played on pretty great teams.

Nobody on spurs or raptors was ever close to Curry of course.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

both have blown 3-1 leads. but only one has blown 3-1 with HCA vs Brian Windhorst

Home court advantage hahaha do you live in a rock. Durant has never played in a bubble.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

both have blown 3-1 leads. but only one has blown 3-1 with HCA vs Brian Windhorst

But is Kawhi gonna sign with the Nuggets?

[999Guy]

Clearly better at his best.


On some level I’m glad he exists because it puts into perspective how overrated Durant has been for years now.

Kawhi is flat out better than KD on both ends when leading a team, but he’s not quite perfect himself as the past PS showed.

People just take KD over CP3, Harden, or prime Westbrook as a fact. He never topped their level. I know in my balls CP3 and Harden peaked higher than KD.

WB and KD were comeplete equals in their last two seasons together.

[And1AllDay]

But is Kawhi gonna sign with the Nuggets?

https://i.postimg.cc/Fs3Py0nq/tenor.gif

[light]

Clearly? No, it's not clear.

I prefer Kevin Durant. His combination of size and ability is too rare to ignore. KD is a very special player.

Kawhi is less special.

[houston]

Nope.

exactly

[Stephonit]

2016 Spurs vs. Thunder happened.

[And1AllDay]

2016 Spurs vs. Thunder happened.

true kiwi shit his pantalones :oldlol:

[Run DLC]

KD is the GOAT. And here’s why


HE CAN PULL UP FROM 30

[MadDog]

Before the injury, I don't think he was. KD was clearly the better scorer and overall shooter. Plus his defense elevated in Golden State. That could all change now obviously, but in no world was Kawhi ever a "far better" player.

[pandiani17]

He is the 4th best player this generation:

1. LeBron
2. Durant
3. Curry
4. Kawhi

Good ranking.:applause:

[tpols]

I wouldn't say so. Durant has the same shooting skill and moves, but he's so much more athletic and graceful. I would say Kawhi is more composed when the chips are down due to his robotic nature... but this year kind of shit on that notion. Durant is better.

[sdot_thadon]

Nah B.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

2016 Spurs vs. Thunder happened.

Let me know when Durant actually wins a playoff series without playing with an MVP. I'll be waiting.

[Drygon]

Let me know when Durant actually wins a playoff series without playing with an MVP. I'll be waiting.

KD won all of his playoffs series in OKC without playing an MVP.

[Drygon]

you cant just not list the stats for the gs years even though it's a very easy situation. He's just a better player those years than he was 2010 and 2011 at least. also kawhi has always played on pretty great teams.

Kawhi had played on great teams, just not on same level as GSW.

Of course I can overlook KD's playoff run with arguably most stacked team ever assembled in NBA history. Kawhi would have performed just as well as KD if he had that GSW team around him. KD played next to Steph Curry (repeat MVP who is both the greatest shooter and off-ball threat of all time) and Klay Thompson (arguably the second greatest shooter of all time).


He is the 4th best player this generation:

1. LeBron
2. Durant
3. Curry
4. Kawhi

KD (when he played in OKC) is statistically worse playoff performer than all of these guys.



Healthy and at his best I would take Kawhi over KD. KD more longevity and higher all-time though. Kawhi is only like a 5-time all-star...pretty crazy

Kawhi is still 1st Ballot Hall Of Fame despite being 5 time All-Stars.

How many players can say that?

Also, Kawhi has 5 years being the 1st option while KD has been 1st option for OKC in 6 years.

Which means the longevity aspect goes out of the window.


Clearly? No, it's not clear.

I prefer Kevin Durant. His combination of size and ability is too rare to ignore. KD is a very special player.

Kawhi is less special.


I wouldn't say so. Durant has the same shooting skill and moves, but he's so much more athletic and graceful. I would say Kawhi is more composed when the chips are down due to his robotic nature... but this year kind of shit on that notion. Durant is better.

Carmelo Anthony & Kyrie Irving also have aesthetically pleasing game.

Do you guys also think they're better than Kawhi?

Kawhi is statistically by far superior playoff performer than KD was in OKC.

[SouBeachTalents]

I would take Kawhi over KD, so I'm in agreement with you. But you playing it off like it isn't close is where you look ridiculous, they are absolutely on the same tier as players

[BigtimeNBAFan]

I wouldn't say so. Durant has the same shooting skill and moves, but he's so much more athletic and graceful. I would say Kawhi is more composed when the chips are down due to his robotic nature... but this year kind of shit on that notion. Durant is better.

Lmao at this retard saying "graceful." So you aren't just a retard, you are a *** too? Lmao.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Kawhi had played on great teams, just not on same level as GSW.

Of course I can overlook KD's playoff run with arguably most stacked team ever assembled in NBA history. Kawhi would have performed just as well as KD if he had that GSW team around him. KD played next to Steph Curry (repeat MVP who is both the greatest shooter and off-ball threat of all time) and Klay Thompson (arguably the second greatest shooter of all time).



KD (when he played in OKC) is statistically worse playoff performer than all of these guys.




Kawhi is still 1st Ballot Hall Of Fame despite being 5 time All-Stars.

How many players can say that?

Also, Kawhi has 5 years being the 1st option while KD has been 1st option for OKC in 6 years.

Which means the longevity aspect goes out of the window.





Carmelo Anthony & Kyrie Irving also have aesthetically pleasing game.

Do you guys also think they're better than Kawhi?

Kawhi is statistically by far superior playoff performer than KD was in OKC.

Is he? Kawhi has had two great postseason runs; 2017 and 2019. I guess this past year he was great statistically with 28/9/5 on 49% shooting, but damn it is hard to get over how bad he choked. That was a historic collapse by the Clilppers and he was the center of it.

[LonelyOwl]

Would KD go 1/11 in the second half of an elimination game?

There's your answer

[riggyrich]

He is the 4th best player this generation:

1. LeBron
2. Durant
3. Curry
4. Kawhi

Putting Curry over Kawhi is a disgrace lol.

[StrongLurk]

Kawhi's peak these last few years are definitely underrated...but KD was just better or at Kawhi's level for so much longer.

KD for his career - 849 games, 27/7/4 career averages
Kawhi - 524 games, 19/6/3 averages

Kawhi is behind KD and Curry as well for the past decade of NBA ball.

[Shooter]

Putting Curry over Kawhi is a disgrace lol.

How? Curry has 5 made Finals in the last 6 years. Kiwi onlyade 1 in the last 6.

[SouBeachTalents]

Would KD go 1/11 in the second half of an elimination game?

There's your answer
He went 1/7 in the 4th with a chance to go the Finals in 2016, while ironically also losing a 3-1 lead

[Basketball r Us]

When KD makes a winning basket, swoosh...no doubts. When Kawhi makes a winning basket, hits the front of the rim....bounces and somehow gets in.

[Honor Boost]

Prime KD I take over Kawhi