Kawhi Leonard Is Not Even Close To Superstardom Yet

For the past 6 months to a year, the NBA media have proclaimed Kawhi Leonard to be a player who is approaching superstardom. But in reality, Kawhi Leonard has a long way to go before he reaches superstardom because at this current moment Leonard has yet to become one of the primary focal points within the San Antonio Spurs offense. When it comes to the Spurs offense, Tony Parker typically brings the ball up the floor until he gets up to the three point line, then he calls for a screen. Once the screen is set, he goes over the top of it and if there is no defender on the other side of the screen he will drive to the basket. Parker will try to score if he sees a wide open path towards the basket, otherwise he will pass it to the perimeter to try to get a three point shot for the team (typically to Kawhi Leonard or Danny Green) . However if there is a defender on the other side of the screen he will pass to the screener for a jump shot. the Spurs choose to run this offensive sequence quite often during their games, as a result of this, Leonard is just standing behind the three point line waiting for his opportunity to shoot. Due to these type of offensive sequences Leonard often has many open looks from the three-point line because his defender is paying attention to the ball handler and either leaves him wide open or is late rotating back to him.

 The only time the Spurs decide to feature/ design a play for Kawhi Leonard is when he's posting up. Tony Parker typically brings the ball up the floor until he gets up to the three point line, then passes it to Leonard in the mid to low post. From there Kawhi Leonard can shoot a turnaround jumper to the left or face up and shoot over his defender if he has a smaller defender on him. If he has a bigger and/ or slower defender on him, he will spin to the left and take it to the basket.

If we looked at Kawhi Leonard as an individual player outside of the Spurs system he would be a taller and better version of Wes Matthews before the torn Achilles. Just like Kawhi, the only time Portland decides to feature/ design a play for Wes Matthews is when he's posting up. Damian Lillard would typically bring the ball up the floor until he gets up to the three point line then passes it to Matthews in the mid to low post. From there Matthews would back down his defender with either shoulder and shoot a jump hook. Matthews could also shoot a turnaround jumper or face up and shoot over his defender if he had a smaller defender on him. Both Leonard and Matthews can catch and shoot from behind the three-point line.

When it comes to the defensive end, both Leonard and Matthews are good defenders, but they have different styles of defending. In terms of Kawhi Leonard opposing guards or forwards can get a step or two on him since he doesn’t have fast feet. But he is always in play because of his long arms therefore he can block or steal the ball from behind. Meanwhile Wes Matthews had to rely on more lateral quickness and foot speed because he doesn’t have the length of Leonard. This allows him to be able to keep his chest in front of opposing guards or forwards as a result of this opposing players felt like they need had a clear path and/ or look at the basket. After a player took one or two steps to try to keep past him, they would end up passing the ball or always taking contested shots