NBA: Top 5 Players Remaining In The Playoffs

4. Kawhi Leonard

Games: 8
PPG: 22.1
RPG: 6.0
APG: 2.4

This season has been the turning point in San Antonio Spurs history in terms of Kawhi Leonard taking his place as the face of the franchise for the future. The physical erosion of Tim Duncan has become evident and the torch has now been passed to Leonard to continue the success that this organization has had for more than a decade.

The Spurs were the lucky team to draw the battered Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. The Grizzlies weren’t even able to limp into the playoffs, as they were missing their top two players in Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Even with those two, it still wouldn’t have been much of a challenge for this Spurs team. Sweeping the Grizzlies resulted in one of the most anticipated matchups in Western Conference playoff history against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Leonard was rewarded with taking his turn guarding both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook throughout the three games thus far. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year has been effective as usual and gave Westbrook fits in Game 1, limiting him to just 14 points on 5-of-19 shooting.

He has also been showing his ability to create his own shot, which has been the one criticism against him being included in the conversation with the elite players of the NBA. Leonard doesn’t only create offense for himself, he is also one of the most efficient with shooting percentages of 50.8 percent from the field and 48.4 percent from three.

As the series with the Thunder is knotted up at two games apiece, Leonard will be key in helping the Spurs advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they will likely meet the Warriors in a matchup that will go down in the history books.

Next: No. 3