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NBA Player Power Rankings: Top 20 Players at Midway Point

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 17, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball as Dallas Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons (25) and power forward Dwight Powell (7) defend during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball as Dallas Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons (25) and power forward Dwight Powell (7) defend during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

Last Rank: No. 5

Position: Small Forward

Age: 24

Slash Line: .506/.481/.874

Season Averages: 33.2 MPG, 20.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 1.9 3PM

Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs trail the Golden State Warriors by just 2.5 games. Leonard’s individual statistics fluctuate, as is to be expected of a player in the Spurs’ system, but his impact has been steady, consistent, and bordering on elite.

Take your pick; virtually all of the numbers are impressive.

As a scorer, Leonard is on pace to join Stephen Curry as the first players to average at least 20.0 points on a slash line of .500/.450/.850 or better since Kiki Vandeweghe in 1986-87, per Basketball-Reference.com. For perspective, Leonard has already made 35 more 3-point field goals than Vandeweghe in 39 less games.

Beyond the scoring, Leonard is No. 1 in the NBA in Defensive Win Shares, and No. 2 in Win Shares per 48 minutes and Defensive Rating, No. 3 in Win Shares, and No. 5 in Player Efficiency Rating.

Leonard opened this past week with the ultimate reaffirmation: a standout performance against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and a steal in the victory, and had 15 points in 29 minutes during a blowout of the Dallas Mavericks.

Still only 24 years old, it’s scary to ponder how good Leonard can still become.

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