Hoops Habit
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NBA: 15 Players Living Up To 2015 Summer Contracts

By Gerald Bourguet

November 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21, right) dribbles against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bulls 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21, right) dribbles against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bulls 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) moves the ball up court against Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Kawhi Leonard

Draymond Green is a top-10 player in this league. He should’ve won Defensive Player of the Year over Kawhi Leonard last season and he’s arguably an MVP candidate, both for the Warriors and the NBA in general. But as the best secondary MVP candidate this season (behind Stephen Curry, of course), Leonard was undoubtedly the best contract maneuver of the summer.

Leave it to the Spurs to turn George Hill into a two-way stud like Leonard, who will join Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in NBA history to earn Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star honors in their careers. Leonard is quite possibly the best wing defender the league has seen since MJ and Scottie Pippen terrorized the league, and his growth on the offensive end has been thrilling to watch.

Averaging a career high 20.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game, Kawhi is finally having that breakout regular season we’ve been waiting for. He’s only 24 years old, but he’s shooting an efficient 50.4 percent from the field and an unconscious 48.1 percent from three-point range — the second-best mark in the league.

More hoops habit: Every NBA Team's Best Bargain Contract

People have long pegged Leonard as Duncan’s successor, and even on a team that snagged LaMarcus Aldridge over the summer, Leonard is living up to that designation.