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NBA Player Power Rankings: Kevin Durant Surpassing LeBron?

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 1, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic 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/.478/.878

Season Averages: 32.5 MPG, 19.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 1.8 3PM

There are a number of adjectives and superlatives that apply to Kawhi Leonard’s game, but the best word for him is, “Valuable.” The 24-year-old is the lockdown player on the NBA’s No. 1 defense, the go-to scorer on one of its Top 10 offenses, and a young man who is progressively developing into a locker room leader.

The San Antonio Spurs have built an incomparably successful culture, and Leonard is being groomed as the new face of the franchise—a title he’s thriving under.

Leonard, who will make his first career All-Star Game appearance in 2016, has been brilliant. He’s scoring just under 20 points per game on a slash line that’s flirting with 50-50-90, and no, that second number is not a typo.

Leonard still has areas of his game that must be polished, but it’s hard to identify a true weakness in any phase of his two-way attack.

Leonard is currently No. 4 in the NBA in Win Shares and No. 2 in Win Shares per 48 minutes. He’s also No 1 in Defensive Win Shares, No. 3 in Defensive Rating, No. 5 in Player Efficiency Rating, No. 6 in Offensive Win Shares, and No. 7 in Offensive Rating.

Whether or not you understand the complexity of advanced metrics, those numbers illustrate but one thing: Leonard has been elite, or something close to it, on both ends of the floor.

Next: The Pursuit of the Throne