Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Anthony Leonard, born June 29, 1991, in Los Angeles, California, and raised in nearby Riverside and Moreno Valley, is a forward for the LA Clippers. After two seasons at San Diego State, he was drafted 15th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers and immediately traded to the San Antonio Spurs. In San Antonio, Leonard developed into one of the league's premier two-way wings, anchoring the Spurs' defense and earning Finals MVP honors as San Antonio won the 2014 NBA championship over the Miami Heat. He later captured back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards. In 2018 he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, where he delivered one of the most memorable single-season runs in NBA history: leading Toronto to the 2019 NBA championship and winning his second Finals MVP, punctuated by the iconic Game 7 buzzer-beater that bounced on the rim before falling to eliminate the Philadelphia 76ers. That summer, Leonard signed with the LA Clippers. His game is built on elite, low-mistake efficiency: lockdown perimeter defense aided by famously large hands, a polished and reliable midrange jumper, and clutch scoring. His accolades include two NBA titles, two Finals MVP awards, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive selections. Widely regarded as one of his era's best, his impact has at times been tempered by careful injury management that has limited his availability across recent seasons.