NBA Playoffs: The 30 most unforgettable individual playoff runs

NBA: The 30 most unforgettable individual playoff runs: 20. Kawhi Leonard (2019)

Rare is the run that vaults a player from the outside into the discussion for best players in the world at any given moment. Most of that type of distinction is generational from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Michael Jordan to LeBron James. For Kawhi Leonard, 2019 blew the door wide open to a daily debate on who is the best at that point.

Over the run, Leonard posted averages of 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He was the two-way force everyone knew he could be, oftentimes locking up the best player on the other team while efficiently silencing them on offense.

Toronto dispatched the Orlando Magic in five games after dropping the opening contest. Leonard only played more than 37 minutes once in the series and it was by far his worst game. He also put up 37 points and 34 points against the Magic before moving on. Then, the Philadelphia 76ers series happened.

This series was an epic event, going seven games and seeing Leonard post-scoring totals of 45, 35, 33, 39, 21, 29 and 41 points. The final basket of the series has been logged in history, as one of the most unpredictable bounces resulted in the Raptors moving on and the Sixers’ hearts breaking.

Against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Conference Finals, the Raptors lost the first two games before Leonard and company willed them back to four straight wins to push to the Finals. By the time the Finals started, it was a true war of attrition. Leonard was visibly hurting and the Warriors were dealing with issues surrounding Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins. In the Finals, Leonard averaged 28.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game.