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NBA: Ranking the 30 best players to win NBA Finals with 2 or more teams

By Corey Rausch

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (L) and Shaquille O'Neal attend the AT&T Slam Dunk during the 2019 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Spectrum Center on February 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (L) and Shaquille O'Neal attend the AT&T Slam Dunk during the 2019 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Spectrum Center on February 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) /
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Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 5. Kawhi Leonard

The modern-day mercenary, Kawhi Leonard is quickly climbing up this list as he continues to dominate the NBA at the highest levels. Leonard was a revelation as a young player thriving on an aging dynasty with the San Antonio Spurs before going out on his own.

Leonard was not thought of a sure thing coming out of San Diego State when the Spurs traded up to select him in the 2011 NBA Draft. He thrived immediately on the defensive end of the court, leading the league in steals in 2014-2015 and winning two Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was also named Finals MVP in 2014, preceding his regular-season accomplishments. During that playoff run, Leonard averaged 14.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game while often locking down the best player on the opposing team.

Leonard made two All-Star appearances and two All-NBA teams in San Antonio before an injury and a misdiagnosis led to an ugly divorce with the Spurs. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors in one of the most ambitious gambles in recent NBA memory in 2018.

For the Raptors, that one year was worth whatever the price. The memories of that championship run are priceless. During the regular season, Leonard put up a line of 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He was an All-Star, an All-NBA performer and a Finals MVP.

Leonard hit one of the most ridiculous shots in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals to eliminate the Philadelphia 76ers in game 7 and then rolled through the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors. Kyle Lowry may go down as the greatest Toronto Raptor of all time but Leonard was the story of this run. Now with the LA Clippers, he’s carving out his own path with Paul George, his legacy may just be getting started.