Kawhi Leonard facts for kids

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Kawhi Leonard
No. 2 – Los Angeles Clippers
Leonard in 2022
Small forward
Personal information
Born	(1991-06-29) June 29, 1991 (age 34) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
High school	Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley, California) Martin Luther King (Riverside, California)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
College	San Diego State (2009–2011)
NBA Draft	2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Pro career	2011–present
League	NBA
Career history
2011–2018	San Antonio Spurs
2018–2019	Toronto Raptors
2019–present	Los Angeles Clippers

Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (2014, 2019) 2× NBA Finals MVP (2014, 2019) 6× NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019–2021, 2024) NBA All-Star Game MVP (2020) 3× All-NBA First Team (2016, 2017, 2021) 3× All-NBA Second Team (2019, 2020, 2024) 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016) 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2015–2017) 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014, 2019–2021) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2012) NBA steals leader (2015) NBA 75th Anniversary Team AP Athlete of the Year (2019) Consensus second-team All-American (2011) 2× First-team All-MWC (2010, 2011) No. 15 retired by San Diego State Aztecs California Mr. Basketball (2009)

Kawhi Anthony Leonard (/kəˈhwaɪ/ KƏ-why; born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Kawhi is known for being a great "two-way player." This means he is excellent at both offense (scoring) and defense (stopping opponents).

He has won two NBA championships and has been named the Finals MVP twice. Kawhi is also a six-time All-Star. He has won the Defensive Player of the Year award twice. People sometimes call him the "Claw" or "Klaw" because of his large hands and how well he steals the ball. In 2021, he was chosen for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, which honors the best players in NBA history.

Kawhi played college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs. He played for two seasons before joining the NBA. He was picked 15th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. However, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on the same night.

With the Spurs, Kawhi won his first NBA championship in 2014. He was also named the Finals MVP. After seven seasons, he moved to the Toronto Raptors in 2018. In his only season with the Raptors in 2019, he led them to their first NBA championship. He won his second Finals MVP award, becoming one of only three players to win it with different teams. Later, he joined his hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers, in 2019.

High School Basketball

Kawhi Leonard went to Canyon Springs High School. He then transferred to Martin Luther King High School. In his final year, he and Tony Snell helped their team, the King High Wolves, achieve a great record of 30 wins and 3 losses.

That year, Kawhi averaged 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3 blocks per game. He was named California Mr. Basketball, which is a big honor for high school players in California.

College Basketball Journey

Kawhi Leonard playing for San Diego State in 2009.

Kawhi started playing college basketball at San Diego State University in 2009. As a freshman, he averaged 12.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He helped the Aztecs win 25 games and the Mountain West Conference (MWC) tournament title. This earned them a spot in the NCAA tournament. He was named MWC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MWC.

In his second year, Kawhi averaged 15.7 points and 10.4 rebounds. The Aztecs had an amazing 34–3 record and won the conference tournament again. They made it to the "Sweet 16" in the NCAA tournament. After this season, Kawhi decided to enter the 2011 NBA draft.

On February 1, 2020, San Diego State honored Kawhi by retiring his number 15 jersey. This means no other player on the team will wear that number. He was the first Aztecs men's basketball player to have his jersey retired.

Professional Basketball Career

When Kawhi Leonard first joined the NBA in 2011, scouts noticed his strong work ethic. They also saw his amazing physical abilities. He was 6 feet 7 inches tall with a 7-foot-3-inch wingspan and 11-inch hands. At first, he was known more for his defense and rebounding than for his scoring.

San Antonio Spurs (2011–2018)

Starting in the NBA

Kawhi was picked 15th in the 2011 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. But he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on the same night. He signed a contract with the Spurs in December 2011.

In his first season, Kawhi was chosen for the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge. He was named to the 2012 NBA All-Rookie First Team. This showed he was one of the best new players in the league.

In 2012, Kawhi also trained with the U.S. Olympic team. He played alongside famous players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Winning an NBA Championship

Kawhi Leonard giving a signed basketball to President Barack Obama in 2015.

In the 2013 NBA Finals, the Spurs played against the Miami Heat. Kawhi averaged 14.6 points and 11.1 rebounds, but the Spurs lost the series.

The next year, in 2014, the Spurs and Heat met again in the Finals. Kawhi had a career-high 29 points in Game 3. The Spurs won the series 4–1. Kawhi was named the NBA Finals MVP. He was one of the youngest players ever to win this award.

Becoming Defensive Player of the Year

In the 2014–15 NBA season, Kawhi missed some games due to an eye infection. But he returned and continued to play well. On April 23, 2015, Kawhi won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. He joined Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win both this award and the NBA Finals MVP.

First All-Star Selection

On July 16, 2015, Kawhi signed a new five-year contract with the Spurs. In January 2016, he was chosen as a starter for the Western Conference team in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game. This was his first time being selected as an All-Star.

Kawhi won the Defensive Player of the Year award for a second year in a row. He was also second in the voting for the MVP award. The Spurs had a great season, finishing with 67 wins. In the playoffs, they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

More Success with the Spurs

Kawhi Leonard playing for the Spurs in 2017.

In the 2016–17 season, Kawhi continued to improve his scoring. He set a new career high with 41 points in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was named a starter for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game again.

In the 2017 NBA playoffs, Kawhi led the Spurs deep into the playoffs. He scored a postseason career-high 43 points in one game. The Spurs reached the Western Conference finals. However, Kawhi got injured in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors and missed the rest of the series. The Spurs lost to the Warriors.

Injury Challenges

Kawhi missed the first 27 games of the 2017–18 season due to a right quadriceps injury. He played in a few games but then was sidelined again. He did not play for the rest of the 2017–18 season.

Toronto Raptors (2018–2019)

Leading the Raptors to a Championship

Kawhi Leonard shooting a free throw during the 2019 NBA Finals.

In July 2018, Kawhi and teammate Danny Green were traded to the Toronto Raptors. This was a big move for the Raptors. In his first game with the Raptors, Kawhi scored 24 points and had 12 rebounds.

On January 1, 2019, he scored a career-high 45 points against the Utah Jazz.

In the 2019 NBA playoffs, Kawhi had an amazing performance. In Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, he made a game-winning shot at the buzzer against the Philadelphia 76ers. The ball bounced on the rim four times before going in, giving the Raptors a 92–90 victory. This was the first Game 7 buzzer-beater in NBA history.

Kawhi then led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA Finals. They faced the Golden State Warriors. The Raptors won the series 4–2, claiming their first NBA championship. Kawhi was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time. He became only the third player to win this award with two different teams. He scored 732 points in the 2019 playoffs, which was one of the highest totals ever in a single postseason.

Los Angeles Clippers (2019–present)

Joining His Hometown Team

On July 10, 2019, Kawhi signed with his hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers. He debuted for the Clippers on October 22, 2019, scoring 30 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.

In December 2019, Kawhi returned to Toronto to play against his former team, the Raptors. He received a warm welcome from the crowd. On January 24, 2020, Kawhi recorded his first career triple-double (scoring double digits in points, rebounds, and assists). In February 2020, he was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP.

The 2019–20 NBA season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When it restarted in the NBA Bubble, Kawhi continued to play well. The Clippers made it to the Western Conference semifinals but lost to the Denver Nuggets in seven games.

Injuries and Comebacks

In the 2020–21 season, Kawhi played in 52 games. He led the Clippers to a strong finish. In the 2021 NBA playoffs, the Clippers faced the Dallas Mavericks again. Kawhi helped them win the series in seven games.

In the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz, Kawhi got injured in Game 4. He had a knee sprain and missed the rest of the series. The Clippers still won and reached the Western Conference finals for the first time in their history. However, they lost to the Phoenix Suns without Kawhi. In July 2021, Kawhi had surgery to repair a partial tear in his right knee.

Kawhi missed the entire 2021–22 season while recovering from his knee injury. The Clippers did not make the playoffs that year.

He returned to play in the 2022–23 season. On December 5, 2022, he made a game-winning shot against the Charlotte Hornets. On February 24, 2023, Kawhi scored a season-high 44 points in a double-overtime game. The Clippers made the playoffs and faced the Phoenix Suns. Kawhi played well in the first two games, but then he missed the rest of the series due to a torn meniscus in his right knee. The Clippers were eliminated.

In the 2023–24 season, Kawhi continued to play for the Clippers. He signed a contract extension in January 2024. He recorded his second career triple-double that month. In the playoffs, he played only two games due to another right knee injury. The Clippers lost in the first round to the Dallas Mavericks.

The 2024–25 season started with more injury news for Kawhi. He was ruled out indefinitely due to inflammation in his right knee. He returned in January 2025 but then stepped away from the team for a short time due to family reasons during the Southern California wildfires. He finished the season strong, helping the Clippers clinch a playoff spot. In the playoffs, the Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets in seven games.

National Team Career

Kawhi has been a finalist for the U.S. Olympic basketball team multiple times. He was chosen to be part of the 2024 U.S. Olympic team for the Paris Olympics. However, he later withdrew from the team in July 2024 after talking with the Clippers and USA Basketball officials.

Player Profile

Kawhi Leonard is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 230 pounds. He mainly plays as a small forward.

He is considered one of the best defensive players in the NBA. He is very athletic and smart on the court. He can guard many different positions and often defends the opposing team's best player. In 2021, he was ranked as the 34th greatest player in NBA history by The Athletic.

Early in his career, Kawhi was known for his defense and shooting. Over time, he became a strong offensive player too. He can shoot well from mid-range and three-point range. He also has good moves to score close to the basket. He has improved his passing skills, especially in recent seasons.

Career Statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2011–12	San Antonio	64	39	24.0	.493	.376	.773	5.1	1.1	1.3	.4	7.9
2012–13	San Antonio	58	57	31.2	.494	.374	.825	6.0	1.6	1.7	.6	11.9
2013–14†	San Antonio	66	65	29.1	.522	.379	.802	6.2	2.0	1.7	.8	12.8
2014–15	San Antonio	64	64	31.8	.479	.349	.802	7.2	2.5	2.3*	.8	16.5
2015–16	San Antonio	72	72	33.0	.506	.443	.874	6.8	2.6	1.8	1.0	21.2
2016–17	San Antonio	74	74	33.4	.485	.381	.880	5.8	3.5	1.8	.7	25.5
2017–18	San Antonio	9	9	23.3	.468	.314	.816	4.7	2.3	2.0	1.0	16.2
2018–19†	Toronto	60	60	34.0	.496	.371	.854	7.3	3.3	1.8	.4	26.6
2019–20	L.A. Clippers	57	57	32.4	.470	.378	.886	7.1	4.9	1.8	.6	27.1
2020–21	L.A. Clippers	52	52	34.1	.512	.398	.885	6.5	5.2	1.6	.4	24.8
2022–23	L.A. Clippers	52	50	33.6	.512	.416	.871	6.5	3.9	1.4	.5	23.8
2023–24	L.A. Clippers	68	68	34.3	.525	.417	.885	6.1	3.6	1.6	.9	23.7
2024–25	L.A. Clippers	37	37	31.9	.498	.411	.810	5.9	3.1	1.6	.5	21.5
Career		733	704	31.8	.499	.392	.860	6.4	3.1	1.7	.6	20.1
All-Star		6	5	18.2	.524	.395	—	5.2	3.3	1.0	.2	13.8

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2012	San Antonio	14	14	27.1	.500	.450	.813	5.9	.6	1.2	.4	8.6
2013	San Antonio	21	21	36.9	.545	.390	.633	9.0	1.0	1.8	.5	13.5
2014†	San Antonio	23	23	32.0	.510	.419	.736	6.7	1.7	1.7	.6	14.3
2015	San Antonio	7	7	35.8	.477	.423	.771	7.4	2.6	1.1	.6	20.3
2016	San Antonio	10	10	33.9	.500	.436	.824	6.3	2.8	2.6	1.4	22.5
2017	San Antonio	12	12	35.8	.525	.455	.931	7.8	4.6	1.7	.5	27.7
2019†	Toronto	24	24	39.1	.490	.379	.884	9.1	3.9	1.7	.7	30.5
2020	L.A. Clippers	13	13	39.3	.489	.329	.862	9.3	5.5	2.3	.8	28.2
2021	L.A. Clippers	11	11	39.2	.573	.393	.880	7.7	4.4	2.1	.8	30.4
2023	L.A. Clippers	2	2	40.2	.545	.600	.882	6.5	6.0	2.0	.5	34.5
2024	L.A. Clippers	2	2	29.7	.458	.000	.667	8.0	2.0	2.0	.5	12.0
2025	L.A. Clippers	7	7	37.9	.537	.405	.778	7.6	4.7	1.1	.7	25.0
Career		146	146	35.6	.513	.399	.841	7.8	3.0	1.8	.7	21.5

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2009–10	San Diego State	34	33	31.3	.455	.205	.726	9.9	1.9	1.4	.7	12.7
2010–11	San Diego State	36	36	32.6	.444	.291	.759	10.6	2.5	1.4	.7	15.5
Career		70	69	31.9	.449	.250	.744	10.2	2.2	1.4	.7	14.1

Awards and Honors

NBA

2× NBA champion: 2014, 2019
2× NBA Finals MVP: 2014, 2019
6× NBA All-Star: 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
NBA All-Star MVP: 2020
6× All-NBA:
- 3× All-NBA First Team: 2016, 2017, 2021
- 3× All-NBA Second Team: 2019, 2020, 2024
2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016)
7× All-Defensive Selection:
- 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team: 2015, 2016, 2017
- 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team: 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021
NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2012
NBA steals leader: 2015
NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)

College

Consensus second team All-American (2011)
NABC All-American Third Team (2011)
2× First-team All-Mountain West (2010–2011)
2× All-Mountain West All-Tournament Team (2010–2011)
All-Mountain West Defensive Team (2011)
Mountain West tournament MVP (2010)
Mountain West Freshman of the Year (2010)
No. 15 retired by San Diego State Aztecs
San Diego State Aztecs Hall of Fame – Class of 2016

High school

California Mr. Basketball (2009)
Martin Luther King Hall of Fame (class of 2018)

Media

AP Athlete of the Year (2019)

Personal Life

Kawhi Leonard is the youngest of five children. His father passed away in 2008. Kawhi played a game the next evening and was very emotional.

Kawhi is the cousin of American football player Stevie Johnson.

Kawhi and his girlfriend have two children.

In 2018, Kawhi signed a deal with New Balance, a sports company. He had previously worked with the Air Jordan brand. In June 2019, Kawhi filed a lawsuit against Nike, saying they copyrighted his "Klaw" logo without his permission.

Kawhi is known for being a quiet person. He doesn't often give interviews or talk about his private life. He has also said that he doesn't follow news or use social media much.

In May 2021, Kawhi announced he would release a hip hop album called Culture Jam. He said the project was about "merging hip-hop and basketball together." The album was created to help a charity honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant. He released some songs from the album in July 2021.

Kawhi also appeared in a music video for the song "Way 2 ..." by Drake.