Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kawhi Leonard

Discover the career path of Kawhi Leonard, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Kawhi Leonard is a highly decorated American professional basketball player currently with the Los Angeles Clippers. Renowned as one of the NBA's premier two-way players, he has earned the moniker "The Klaw" due to his defensive prowess and large hands. Leonard boasts two NBA championships, six All-Star selections, six All-NBA Team nods, and seven All-Defensive Team selections. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year twice (2015, 2016). His accomplishments led to his inclusion on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, solidifying his status as an all-time great.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

December 10, 2011: Signed Multi-Year Deal with Spurs

On December 10, 2011, Kawhi Leonard signed a multi-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs following the conclusion of the NBA lockout.

2011: Declared for the NBA Draft

In 2011, Kawhi Leonard declared for the NBA Draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility, after being named to the Second Team All-America.

2011: NBA Draft and Trade to Spurs

In 2011, Kawhi Leonard entered the NBA draft and was selected by the Indiana Pacers as the 15th overall pick. He was then traded to the San Antonio Spurs on draft night.

2011: NBA Scouts' Assessment of Leonard

In 2011, NBA scouts recognized Kawhi Leonard's strong work ethic and physical attributes but found him "difficult to pin down," noting his defensive and rebounding skills over offensive capabilities.

October 26, 2012: Spurs Exercise Team Option on Leonard

On October 26, 2012, the Spurs exercised the team option on Kawhi Leonard, re-signing him through the 2013–14 season.

2012: NBA All-Rookie First Team Selection

At the end of the 2012 season, Kawhi Leonard was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, recognizing his successful debut season.

2012: Rising Stars Challenge Selection

In 2012, Kawhi Leonard was selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge. He was also promoted to starting small forward for the Spurs.

2012: Selection to USA Men's Basketball Select Team

In the summer of 2012, Kawhi Leonard was selected to play for the 2012 USA men's basketball Select Team, training with the Olympic team.

2013: Extended contract with the Spurs

In 2013, Kawhi Leonard's contract with the Spurs was extended through the 2013-14 season.

April 6, 2014: Season-High 26 Points vs. Grizzlies

On April 6, 2014, Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 26 points in the Spurs' 112–92 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

June 10, 2014: Career-High 29 Points in NBA Finals Game 3

On June 10, 2014, in game 3 of the NBA Finals series, Kawhi Leonard scored a then career-high 29 points in a 111–92 victory against the Miami Heat.

November 10, 2014: Season-High 26 Points Against Clippers

On November 10, 2014, despite suffering from blurry vision, Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 26 points in the Spurs' 89–85 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

2014: NBA Championship and Finals MVP with Spurs

In 2014, Kawhi Leonard won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player, marking a significant achievement in his career.

January 16, 2015: Return from Injury

On January 16, 2015, Kawhi Leonard returned to action after missing 15 games due to an injured right hand, recording 20 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

July 16, 2015: Re-signed with the Spurs

On July 16, 2015, Kawhi Leonard re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs to a five-year, $90 million contract.

2015: Took on Larger Offensive Responsibility

From the 2015–16 season on, Kawhi Leonard began taking on a larger offensive responsibility and quickly established himself as one of the most efficient scorers in the league.

2015: Played in Team USA Showcase game

In 2015, Kawhi Leonard played in Team USA's Showcase game, scoring 14 points for the USA White Team.

2015: Defensive Player of the Year

In 2015, Kawhi Leonard was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year, showcasing his defensive prowess in the NBA.

January 21, 2016: Named All-Star Starter

On January 21, 2016, Kawhi Leonard was named as a starter to the Western Conference team for the 2016 All-Star Game, earning his first All-Star selection.

March 23, 2016: 32-Point Outing Against Heat

On March 23, 2016, Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points in a win over the Miami Heat, helping the Spurs extend their franchise-record home winning streak.

October 25, 2016: Career-High 35 Points in Season Opener

On October 25, 2016, Kawhi Leonard recorded a career-high 35 points and five steals in the Spurs' season opener win over the Golden State Warriors.

2016: Second Consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award

In 2016, Kawhi Leonard earned the Defensive Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year, solidifying his reputation as an elite defender.

2016: Finalist for Olympic team

In 2016, Kawhi Leonard was a finalist for the United States men's Olympic basketball team roster.

January 14, 2017: New Career High of 38 Points

On January 14, 2017, Kawhi Leonard set a new career high with 38 points in a loss to the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first Spur to record three consecutive 30-point games since Tony Parker in 2012.

February 13, 2017: 32 Points and League-Record Streak

On February 13, 2017, Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points in a win over the Indiana Pacers, extending the Spurs' streak of consecutive winning seasons to a league-record 20.

April 15, 2017: 32 Points in Game 1 vs. Grizzlies

On April 15, 2017, Kawhi Leonard matched his postseason high with 32 points in a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

December 12, 2017: Season Debut After Injury

On December 12, 2017, Kawhi Leonard made his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks after missing the first 27 games due to a right quadriceps injury.

June 2018: Leonard requests trade from Spurs

In June 2018, reports surfaced that Kawhi Leonard requested a trade from the Spurs due to disagreements over his injury rehabilitation.

2018: Signed Deal with New Balance

In 2018, Kawhi Leonard reportedly signed a multi-year endorsement deal with New Balance, the multinational sports footwear and apparel corporation, after a previous deal with Air Jordan.

2018: Trade to Toronto Raptors

In 2018, after seven seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors.

2018: Leonard did not play again in 2018

Kawhi Leonard did not play again in 2018.

January 1, 2019: Career-high 45 points vs Utah Jazz

On January 1, 2019, Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 45 points in a 122–116 win over the Utah Jazz.

July 10, 2019: Leonard signs with Los Angeles Clippers

On July 10, 2019, Kawhi Leonard signed a three-year, $103 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

July 2019: Signed with Los Angeles Clippers

In July 2019, Kawhi Leonard moved to his hometown of Los Angeles and signed with the Clippers as a free agent.

October 22, 2019: Leonard debuts for the Clippers

On October 22, 2019, Kawhi Leonard debuted for the Clippers, scoring 30 points in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

2019: Raptors win NBA Championship; Leonard named Finals MVP

In 2019, Kawhi Leonard helped the Raptors win the NBA Championship and was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time.

2019: Raptors advance to NBA Finals

In 2019, Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors against the Milwaukee Bucks, helping them advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

2019: Trade to Raptors

In 2019, Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors.

2019: Improved Passing Game

In the 2019–20 season, Kawhi Leonard improved his passing game, logging a career-high 4.9 assists per game, nearly doubling his career average.

January 14, 2020: Leonard scores season-high 43 points

On January 14, 2020, Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 43 points in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

December 22, 2020: Leonard records 26 points in win over Lakers

On December 22, 2020, Kawhi Leonard recorded 26 points and two steals in a 116–109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

2020: Finalist for Olympic team

In 2020, Kawhi Leonard was a finalist for the United States men's Olympic basketball team roster.

May 3, 2021: Announced Hip Hop Album

On May 3, 2021, Kawhi Leonard took to Instagram Live and announced that he would release a hip hop album titled Culture Jam sometime in 2021, describing it as "merging hip-hop and basketball together".

July 23, 2021: Released Songs

On July 23, 2021, Kawhi Leonard released the songs "Waves" and "Everything Different".

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August 12, 2021: Leonard re-signs with Clippers

On August 12, 2021, Kawhi Leonard re-signed with the Clippers on a four-year, $176.3 million contract.

2021: Clippers advance to next round of playoffs

In 2021, Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers in the elimination game 6, tying his career-high 45 points and subsequently recorded 28 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and four steals in the decisive game 7 win, to advance to the next round.

2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Kawhi Leonard was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, recognizing him as one of the greatest players in NBA history.

October 3, 2022: Leonard returns from injury

On October 3, 2022, Kawhi Leonard made his return from injury, putting up 11 points in a preseason win over the Trail Blazers.

2022: Leonard leads Clippers to win over Warriors

On February 14, 2022, Leonard scored 33 points, tying his career high with seven three-pointers in a 134–124 win over the reigning champions Golden State Warriors.

January 10, 2023: Leonard scores 33 points against Mavericks

On January 10, 2023, Leonard scored 33 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 3-of-5 from three and 12-of-12 from the free throw line, along with nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in an 113–101 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

December 8, 2023: Leonard scores season-high 41 points

On December 8, 2023, Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 41 points in a win over the Utah Jazz.

January 10, 2024: Leonard signs extension with Clippers

On January 10, 2024, Kawhi Leonard signed an extension with the Clippers for $153 million over three years.

July 10, 2024: Withdrawal from Olympic Roster

On July 10, 2024, Kawhi Leonard withdrew from the 2024 United States men's Olympic basketball team roster after consultations with the Clippers and USA Basketball officials and was replaced by Derrick White.