Treat Kawhi Leonard’s final run the same as Allen Iverson’s

Who was more impactful?

Kawhi Leonard scored 684 points on that playoff run, notching him eighth all-time points for a postseason. Iverson? He sits fourth with 723. He also averaged 46.2 minutes per game to Leonard’s 39.1. Iverson averaged two more assists and one more point while shooting 12 percent worse.

I’ll take a pass on the rebounds because that was not Iverson’s role but the defense needs to be a factor. Leonard locked down each team’s best player. Leonard was exceptional all around. Leonard turned a stuck, fearful franchise into champions.

And at the end of the day, regardless of unfortunate circumstances to the Warriors, Kawhi Leonard won. Final score: 9/5 Leonard. (Iverson: 19, Leonard: 20)

If there is any conclusion to take from this, it’s this: Kawhi’s 2019 run was great. Iverson’s 2001 run was great. But if it wasn’t for Kevin Durant’s injury, I don’t think many people had Toronto coming out on top. That Warriors team with prime KD was unstoppable, just like Kobe and Shaq.

If Durant doesn’t go down, the Warriors win, Kawhi is remembered for the insane playoff run in the east and everyone is happy. Except Toronto fans who now claim DeMar Derozan was just as good, as they beg him to forgive and return to the Raptors. Other than leaving in free agency and the broken hearts of Canada, that is still a heck of a legacy to leave behind. One that can only be compared to that of the Answer, Allen Iverson.