Ranking the top 50 NBA players of next season: Top 10

8. Kawhi Leonard

One postseason and offseason can do plenty of damage to a player’s reputation. This time last year arguments were being made for Kawhi Leonard as the best player in the league after coming off a magical title run with the Toronto Raptors and forming a super team with the LA Clippers. After the chemistry experiment failed and the future in LA is murkier some of the luster has faded.

Ultimately health in the postseason is what establishes Leonard’s place in the league. Leonard missed 15 games last regular season but posted impressive numbers, averaging 27.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He was eighth in defensive rating among player who played at least 32 minutes per game. He was the two-way force the team expected and looked to be having the best year of his career.

His counting stats in the postseason do not show the total drop off as he averaged 28.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.3 steals. Digging deeper, his efficiency cratered and the team suffered because of it. He dropped to 32.9 percent from long range and even went scoreless in the fourth quarter of the season deciding game against the Denver Nuggets. Injuries caught up to him and the long-maligned load management started to make more sense.

Leonard is one of the best players in the world when he is able to be on the court. In a normal season he is a no-brainer top-five selection. However, in a world with increased back to back and a compressed schedule his overall impact will likely be limited. Given that, he finds himself on the outside looking in.