Can Jalen Brunson lead the New York Knicks to an NBA title?

                                             (Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images) 

 
 As the New York Knicks look to win their first NBA championship since Phil Jackson's playing days (1973), all eyes are on their 6'2", 190 pound floor general Jalen Brunson, who is averaging 26.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game on 46.7% shooting from the field, 36.9% shooting from 3-point range, and 84.1% shooting from the foul line. Brunson has guided the Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 in which they fell to the Spurs in five games. In case you were wondering, yes, that was the 50 game lockout season. The season after Michael Jordan's final season in Chicago. 

Brunson has been amazing all season long and proven himself to be among the best guards in the NBA. He is incredibly shifty with the basketball and crafty around the rim, capable of scoring in a wide variety of ways with floaters, mid-range jumpers, 3-pointers, etc. There's really no way he can't score, which is why he's so difficult to contain. 

In their four-game sweep of the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, Brunson averaged 25.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. He had two 30+ point performances, his best performance coming in Game 1 in which he had 38 points, five rebounds, six assists, and three steals. The Knicks rallied from 22 points down to win 115-104 in overtime. That comeback sucked the soul out of the Cavaliers, who pretty much curled up into a ball the rest of the series and lost the will to fight. 

Brunson has shown he can play at an elite level on the biggest of stages and none are bigger than the NBA Finals. Basketball is a team sport and so Brunson won't be able to do this on his own. He's going to need help from his teammates, most notably Karl-Anthony Towns, who is averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game.  Towns is going to have to do his part to take the pressure off Brunson and deliver the goods. If he has a big series, the Knicks could make this interesting. 

Ultimately, I do see the Spurs winning the championship in six games, but at the same time I'm not totally counting the Knicks out. When you have a guard as good as Jalen Brunson, you have to feel like any night can be your night and when you find yourself playing in the NBA Finals, you have to believe. It'll be fun to see how Brunson does and what kind of impact he has on this series. 

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San Antonio Spurs have remarkable one-year turnaround to reach the NBA Finals

 

                                              (Credit: Nate Billings/AP) 

Just one year after going 34-48, the San Antonio Spurs are going to the NBA Finals, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals 111-103 on the road in OKC. The Spurs finished the regular season with a record of 62-20, which was the second best record in the league behind the Thunder, who went 64-18. Not many teams have reached the NBA Finals after missing the playoffs the season prior. That puts the Spurs in a pretty elite group of teams in league history. 

What's been key to the Spurs' turnaround has been the combination of great coaching from head coach Mitch Johnson, all-around team play (a hallmark of Spurs basketball during the Gregg Popovich years), and having a fantastic one-two punch in Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox. Before the season, I wrote a blog post on here saying I felt like Wembanyama/Fox could form a championship caliber duo. But even I didn't think they'd rise to championship level this fast. 

“You know, as a I said earlier, experience a lot of times is used in the form of a best used or the lack thereof when you need it the most,” Johnson said of what his team accomplished being so young. “And people don’t talk about as much the habits, the character, the togetherness, the competitive response. The things we talk about in these media sessions every single day. And this team has now been pretty damn consistent for a long time. For over a hundred games for the most part. And so, I’ll take those things with the experience that we’ve gone through when you want to look back in terms how we started the year, how we go to the cup on the road vs. Denver and LA. What we did in the cup. Playing these guys around Christmastime a few times. Expectations. We’ve played in three playoff series without Victor, without Fox multiple games, I don’t know who has as much experience as we do this year in the season of 2025-2026.”  

“It feels great,” Fox said of reaching his first career NBA Finals. “Especially doing it with this group of guys with just how young and how talented they are. To be able to be this resilient. Especially against you know, some teams that have been here. You know, playing Minnesota, they’ve been in the conference finals the last two years and then obviously OKC been to the conference finals the last two years, been a number one seed the last three years. Just won a championship. Being able to do it against those types of teams I think prepare you for whatever you’re going to see at the end and it’s definitely great…And then coming here my first full year, being able to be in the finals, I don’t know if I thought that, but I knew that we were gonna have a damn good team and we continued to get better just throughout the course of the season.

“While we were winning games, we were getting better every step of the way and by the time we got to, I would even say like all-star break, I was like, it could be real. Like, we can, we definitely have a chance this year and this is just another stepping stone to that goal.”

That being said, what made me confident in their potential is the fact that Wembanyama is such a unique talent at 7'4", 235 pounds. Averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, he can score from anywhere on the floor. Fox in turn is a dynamic point guard, averaging 18.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Point guard/big man duos like that typically do really well in the NBA. 

“Yeah, he has such a vision in my opinion of who he wants to be as a person and as a player,” Johnson said of Wembanyama. “And the commitment and investment that he puts into that vision is nothing like I’ve ever seen before. And I think we’ve seen a few moments where his emotions probably in my opinion, again, meet all the things that he’s putting into for these achievements and accomplishments and milestones and goals of his. In terms of championing his cause and his journey, I thought in the first half, he floated a little too much at times.

“And we needed him to be demonstrative, we needed him to play with strength. We needed him to bring his will more than his talent and it’s hard for these young guys who have never been in this spot. So there is the experience thing and I understand that they’re learning on the fly what it takes, but I think the second half we doubled down and invested on leaning into willing our plays to execution and to completion and not our talent. And when we did that appropriately we still had enough talent when needed to make the appropriate plays.”

On top of having a fantastic one-two punch, this is the Spurs we are talking about. Johnson learned from the best in the business in Popovich, quickly ascending the coaching ranks after his playing days at Stanford. At just 39 years of age, Johnson greatly benefited from being an assistant under Popovich starting in 2019 before eventually taking over the head coaching job in May 2025. When you combine great talent with elite level coaching, that's a recipe for success. 

Looking ahead to the NBA Finals, it'll be interesting to see if the Spurs can cap off this amazing run with a championship. The New York Knicks, whose last appearance in the NBA Finals was in 1999 against the Spurs, will look to avenge that 4-1 defeat 27 years later. The Spurs have to hope that if history doesn't repeat itself, it will at least rhyme with another championship for their franchise. 

“Winning the Larry O’Brien, it’s a childhood dream,” Wembanyama said. “And having a real shot at it. Having a chance. A tangible chance at winning it, realizing a dream, it’s a chance. It’s a lifetime chance. You know, it’s, you never know when it’s going to happen again. But it’s, the day we win it, speaking for myself it’s going to be an amazing day of like, realization of a dream. You know, it’s hard to put into words. It’s almost like the meaning of my life, you know?" 

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How good of a duo can De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama be in San Antonio?

 

                                         (Credit: Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images) 

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off a 2024-25 season in which they went 34-48 overall in year one of Mitch Johnson taking over as head coach with Gregg Popovich sliding over to the president of basketball operations role. As they look to have an improved season, the hope is that the tandem of point guard De'Aaron Fox and center Victor Wembanyama will produce at an elite level and help them get back to being an NBA championship contending team. 

Despite acquiring Fox before the trade deadline back in February, the Spurs haven't really gotten a chance to see what he and Wembanyama can do together as they only played five games together due to both players getting injured. Wembanyama playing in only 46 games as he dealt with a blood clot issue that has since been resolved. During the five games that they were on the floor together, Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game while Fox averaged 21.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. 

In their second to last game together, the two of them combined for 61 points in a 131-121 road win over the Washington Wizards. Wembanyama finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals while Fox finished with 30 points, four rebounds, six assists, and one steal. Even though the Wizards were terrible last season, that win still gave the Spurs a glimpse of what a Wembanyama and Fox duo could look like. 

Fox is one of the most talented point guards in the NBA. He's incredibly quick with the ball, capable of creating for others while also possessing an ability to score both around the rim and from the perimeter. As for Wembanyama, he's one of the most amazing talents the NBA has ever seen. A 7'3" freak that can hit threes, run the floor, handle the ball, and fiercely protect the rim. He's everything you want in a big man. A true unicorn. 

Ultimately, the big question the Spurs have is whether or not Fox and Wembanyama can stay healthy. If they are able to stay on the floor, the sky is the limit to what they can accomplish. They have the potential to be a duo that makes a lot of noise in the Western Conference and gets the Spurs back in the championship conversation. There's just not many teams that have a point guard/big man combination like this. It'll be fun to see how the season goes for them and how quickly they start to gel. 

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Saturday Slam: How should the 2020 NBA champion be viewed?

The 2019-20 NBA season is tentatively scheduled to resume on July 31st with an NBA Finals ending on October 12th at the latest. The NBA Draft will be October 15th, free agency will start October 18th, 2020-21 training camp November 10th, and the 2020-21 season starting December 1st. These dates are per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The rest of the season is tentatively set to be played at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. All 16 current NBA playoff teams plus six additional teams that are within six games of the final playoff spot in their conference will make up a 22 team field. There is some discussion about what the other eight teams that aren't invited will be doing. At the moment, nothing is planned, but it is possible that they get allowed to do some joint workouts together or form their own summer league kinda thing. For more details on what the rest of the season will look like, click here.

The big question that I think is yet to be addressed much is how should the 2020 NBA champion be viewed? It's a unique season in that the champion will be determined at a neutral site location. Home court advantage won't be a factor. This of course means that lower seeded teams gain an advantage while higher seeded teams are put at a disadvantage. There is some discussion of giving higher seeds other advantages like an extra challenge or an extra foul for their best player, but let's be real, nothing the league can do can make up for home court advantage. Probably the best thing the league can do is give the higher seed a three point advantage in each game or something like that. But that would still feel kinda weird and artificial.

Personally, I think there's no way around the fact that there will be somewhat of an asterisk next to whatever team wins the 2020 NBA championship. Especially if it's a team that comes out of nowhere to win it. I think if one of the higher seeded teams wins it, there will be less of an asterisk, but if a five or six seeded team wins the title, there will be a greater asterisk for sure. I don't think it's totally fair as the playoffs will be played in a traditional best-of-seven format all the way through, but it is what it is.

On the flip side, one could argue that winning in this format and season is even harder and that it will require an even greater mental fortitude. Everyone is given the same set of challenges and whichever team prevails certainly will deserve credit. There also won't be the stink of home cooking from officials, so that in a way will make the games feel more legitimate.

Also, the NBA has had champions in unusual seasons before. The 1998-99 lockout season was a 50 game season in which the top seeded Western Conference team San Antonio Spurs defeated the eighth seeded Eastern Conference team New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. One could just as easily put an asterisk next to the Spurs' 1999 championship. At the time, I think there was some discussion about that, but as time has gone on, that championship has been viewed as legitimate. I think in part because of the fact that the Spurs went on to win four more NBA championships.

I think when it comes to how the 2020 NBA champion will be judged, I think a lot of it will come down to which team wins it and how that team does in subsequent seasons. If say the Milwaukee Bucks win the title and go on to win a few more afterwards with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the helm, I think the 2020 NBA champion will be still be remembered as an oddity, but there won't be much of an asterisk if any next to their name. If instead, a team like the Indiana Pacers shock the world, odds are greater there will be more scrutiny.

Regardless of how the 2020 NBA champion will be viewed, I think it's safe to say that this season will be one to remember and hopefully the most unique season in league history. While I do think odds are high that there will be at least a tiny asterisk next to the champion, I really don't think there should be one. Winning an NBA championship is not easy and if you are able to survive that grind and get across that finish line, you deserve to be remembered as a champion no matter how you got the job done.

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NBALord.com Southwest Division Preview

Up next in my division previews is the Southwest Division, home to the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans. This division once again projects to be highly competitive and very interesting. 

The Houston Rockets were a healthy Chris Paul hamstring away from reaching the NBA Finals last year and will look to finish the job this year. The addition of Carmelo Anthony is aimed at giving them more offensive potency off the bench and another veteran in the locker room. Anthony will be coming off the bench for the first time in his career and will have to adjust to this new role. 

Another key piece on this Rockets team is big man Clint Capela, who is one the most talented big men in the league. He runs the floor extremely well and is becoming a pretty versatile player, capable of scoring, rebounding, and blocking shots. With him anchoring the middle, the Rockets have one of the better front courts in the NBA. 

While Anthony and Capela will have big roles on this team, the success of the Rockets ultimately hinges on the success of James Harden and Chris Paul. When healthy, these two guys form one of the most dangerous backcourt in the NBA, capable of putting up points and making plays for others. When they're not at full strength, this team suddenly becomes very beatable. 

The key thing for Mike D'Antoni to do this year is to manage his minutes effectively and keep Paul and Harden as rested as possible for the playoffs. That won't be easy, but it's essential that he finds a way to keep these guys fresh. If he's able to do that, these guys just might reach the NBA Finals. 

It's a new era in San Antonio. Manu Ginobili has retired, Tony Parker is now with the Charlotte Hornets, and Kawhi Leonard is now a member of the Toronto Raptors. Despite these changes, the Spurs have a very talented team led by DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Rudy Gay. 

Of course the main guy to watch this year is DeRozan since he is the main new face on this team. Coming up short in the playoffs dogged him during his entire time in Toronto, so he'll be eager to show that same reputation won't follow him in San Antonio. 

I don't see the Spurs coming out of the Western Conference this year or anything along those lines, but I do expect them to make the playoffs and compete to win an opening round series. What really hurt this team last year was the drama surrounding Kawhi Leonard. With that now behind them, these guys can get back to focusing on playing Spurs basketball. I expect this renewed focus to do them a lot of good and make them a sneaky good team. 

The New Orleans Pelicans are led by double-double machine Anthony Davis, who is arguably the best player in the NBA. His 32 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 blocks in their opening night win over the Rockets speaks for itself. When you have a guy like Davis on your team, you are automatically going to be a tough team to beat every night you step on the floor. 

In addition to Davis, the Pelicans have some other talented pieces in Nikola Mirotic, Jrue Holiday, and Elfrid Payton. Holiday and Payton form a really dynamic backcourt while Mirotic is one of the better stretch forwards in the game. They're starting to put together a talented core around Davis and that should put the rest of the Western Conference on notice. 

Like every team, health will play a big factor in the success of this team. If they are able to remain relatively injury free and develop some cohesion, they should be another team vying for a playoff spot. 

With Dirk Nowitzki in the twilight years of his career, it is a new era in Dallas led by Dennis Smith, Jr., DeAndre Jordan, and rookie sensation Luka Doncic. 

Doncic will be the one to really watch on this team. There was talk of him possibly going #1 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft and many feel he's got the chance to be really special due to his unique blend of size, shooting, and play making. While I think Deandre Ayton will win rookie of the year, Doncic should put himself in the conversation. 

If there's one other guy to really focus on, it would be DeAndre Jordan, who is looking for a fresh start after spending a decade with the Los Angeles Clippers. For the first time in his career, Jordan is expected to be the top dog on an NBA team, which puts more pressure on him than ever before. I expect Jordan to have a solid season with the Mavericks, but he's not enough to make these guys competitive. 

It will be a long season in Dallas, but hopefully one where they are able to develop their young talent and start to build an identity. The future could be bright for this team, but we are at least a couple of years away from finding out what they really have. 

The Memphis Grizzlies still have their one-two punch of Mike Conley, Jr. and Marc Gasol and they added a really talented rookie power forward in Jaren Jackson, Jr. out of Michigan State. It's a bit of rebuilding situation in Memphis, but the hope is they'll be back to playoff form sooner rather than later. 

Conley is coming back from a left Achilles injury and might take a little while to get back to full strength. So long as he's not 100 percent, it will be hard for this Grizzlies team to be competitive. As good as Marc Gasol is, he can't shoulder the load all on his own. 

If the Grizzlies are going to have any success this year, they're really going to need major production from their first round pick Jaren Jackson, Jr. There are high hopes for him and with a really young roster, the opportunity for a lot of minutes are there to take advantage of. If he can have a big rookie year, the Grizzlies could exceed expectations. 

Similar to the Mavericks, this will be a year for the Grizzlies to really focus on cultivating their young talent and figuring out who they want to be a part of their franchise for the long-term future. One such example is Ivan Rabb, who got some minutes for them in the front court last year and showed some promise. If they can get a feel for Rabb's future along with their other young players, the Grizzlies will have a productive season regardless of their record. 

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Saturday Slam: Can Kawhi Leonard lead the Toronto Raptors to the NBA Finals?

Despite having a bizarre finish to his career in San Antonio, Kawhi Leonard found a way to tie things up nicely earlier this week, posting a thoughtful message that thanks both the Spurs fans and organization. Regardless of what may have happened this past season, Leonard still won an NBA championship and NBA Finals MVP while a member of the Spurs. His time there should be remembered well both by the fans and organization, so it's great to see that he was able to post the message that he did.

Kawhi Leonard has released a statement, thanking the city of San Antonio and the entire #Spurs organization. These are his first comments since being traded to the #Raptors. #NBA pic.twitter.com/pUAON0fALw

— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) August 10, 2018

Looking ahead to his time in Toronto, Leonard has a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Regardless of whether or not he decides to re-sign with the Raptors in 2019 or look elsewhere, he will want to have a big year and prove that he's not damaged goods after a strange final year in San Antonio. In the 2016-17 season, Leonard averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, putting himself in the discussion for best player in the NBA. If he can replicate those type of numbers, he will have certainly erased any doubt about his abilities to still produce at an elite level.

However, producing big numbers isn't the only thing Leonard has to do in order to be a success in Toronto. The real pressure lies in whether or not he can lead the Raptors deep in the playoffs and give them a real shot at winning a championship. The Raptors have had many strong regular season teams, but they've all fallen well short of the ultimate goal. Watching the Raptors choke is becoming an NBA playoffs tradition that we know all too well. We expect them to fail. If Leonard can flip the script and take the Raptors to the NBA Finals, he will have boosted his legacy immensely and made himself a lot of friends north of the border.

In order to get Leonard, the Raptors traded away DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Pöltl, and a protected 2019 first round pick to the Spurs. In addition to getting Leonard, the Raptors also got Danny Green back in the deal, giving Leonard at least one familiar face on his new team. Given the limited amount of pieces that moved in this trade, the Raptors essentially have the same pieces around Leonard that they had around DeRozan. No disrespect to DeRozan, but if Leonard is as good as everyone thinks he is, the Raptors should fair much better in the playoffs.

                                          (Credit: Bob Donnan. USA TODAY Sports) 
         
My honest prediction at this juncture is that the Boston Celtics will come out of the Eastern Conference, but if there's one team that they should fear, it is the Raptors. Unlike the Philadelphia 76ers, the Raptors are led by a guy who knows what it takes to a win championship. Even with all the possible baggage that comes with Kawhi Leonard, one cannot take away his championship and NBA Finals MVP. He's got that under his belt and as a result the Raptors have to go into this season feeling like they have much better odds at winning a championship than ever before.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Taking a quick look at the Western Conference playoff picture

With the NBA regular season concluding next week (April 10th), I thought it would be good to take a quick look at where things sit in the Western Conference playoff picture. One week from now we'll know who's in, who's out, and who's playing who. Until then, it's going to be a wild week with teams jockeying for position.

Who's clinched

At this point, the following three teams have clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference playoffs: Houston Rockets (63-15), Golden State Warriors (57-21), and Portland Trail Blazers (48-30). The Rockets are locked into the #1 seed and the Warriors are locked into the #2 seed, so they can pretty much chill the rest of this week. With all the injuries the Warriors have had, they in particular would be wise to pump the brakes and go easy during this last week.

As for the Trail Blazers, while they have already clinched, they still have a little bit of work to do in order to hang onto the #3 seed and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.  Their schedule is as follows: @Houston, @San Antonio, @ Denver, and vs. Utah. It's actually a pretty tough schedule, so the Trail Blazers should be looking to go hard all the way until the last night.

Who's in if it started today 

If the playoffs started today, the San Antonio Spurs (45-32), Utah Jazz (45-33), Oklahoma City Thunder (45-34), Minnesota Timberwolves (44-34), and New Orleans Pelicans (43-34) would all be in. The Spurs would have clinched on Tuesday had they defeated the Los Angeles Clippers and had the Denver Nuggets lost. Unfortunately for them, neither of those events happened. The Clippers outscored the Spurs 41-27 in the 4th quarter to win 113-110 and the Nuggets defeated the Indiana Pacers 107-104.

The Spurs still figure to make the playoffs, but they'll have to wait another day to officially punch their ticket. The Jazz are hoping to take advantage of the Spurs' loss and bump themselves up to the #4 seed, which would give them home court advantage in the first round. The Jazz have won three straight games including a 117-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers today. They have a moderately tough schedule coming up, so they could do it but it won't be a cakewalk: vs. Los Angeles Clippers, @Los Angeles Lakers, vs. Golden State, and @Portland.

As for the Thunder and Timberwolves, they have work to do as well, but they have the temporary luxury of being in front of the 8th seeded Pelicans, who are sinking like a stone as we speak. The Pelicans have lost four straight games and have five games remaining vs. Memphis, @Phoenix, @Golden State, @Los Angeles Clippers, and vs. San Antonio. Their last three games are no slam dunk, so they really need to take care of business against Memphis and Phoenix if they want to ensure that they still make the playoffs.

Who's on the outside trying to get in 

If any of the four teams above miss the playoffs, it'll either be the Denver Nuggets (42-35) or Los Angeles Clippers (41-36) who take their spot. The Nuggets have won three straight games and are only one game back of the Pelicans, really turning the heat up as of late. The Nuggets' remaining schedule is as follows: vs. Minnesota, @Los Angeles Clippers, vs. Portland, and @Minnesota. That's a pretty tough schedule, but considering how the Pelicans are playing, they should like their chances of sneaking in.

As for the Clippers, their 113-110 win over the Spurs tonight saved their season. Their remaining schedule is as follows: @Utah, vs. Denver, vs. New Orleans, and vs. Los Angeles Lakers. It's not an easy schedule, but what helps is they have a chance to gain a full game on both the Nuggets and Pelicans if they win those games. Playing at Salt Lake City won't be easy, but if they can somehow pull off a miracle in that game, they'll be well positioned to make up some ground and take out both the Nuggets and Pelicans.

Prediction 

My personal prediction is I think the Spurs, Jazz, Thunder, and Timberwolves will make the playoffs. They still have their work to do, but at the end of the day, I think they'll all make it. As for that 8th spot, I think that is too close to call right now. The Pelicans couldn't be hitting a four game losing skid at a worse time so I really am not feeling that they get in. If I had to make a final prediction, I think the Clippers will be the team that gets in. Their schedule is pretty friendly and tonight's win over the Spurs seems to be sign of things to come.

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Saturday Slam: With Kawhi Leonard likely done for the year, are the Spurs cooked?

Earlier this week, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com that he would be surprised if Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) returned this season. The weird part of this whole thing is that Leonard has been medically cleared to play, but is opting not to play presumably because of severe discomfort. During the 9 games that he played this season, Leonard averaged 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in 23.3 minutes of action. While it was clear he wasn't yet back to full strength, he was still able to give the Spurs a legitimate boost.

As it stands, the Spurs are currently 4th in the Western Conference with a 35-25 record, 11 games back of the Rockets and Warriors. While they are expected to make the playoffs, it's no guarantee that they do as they are only two games up on the 8th seeded New Orleans Pelicans. This Spurs team isn't as deep as previous years, which makes the absence of Leonard such a crushing blow. Outside of LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs really don't have anyone else who they can rely on. Rudy Gay, Pau Gasol, and Tony Parker are solid role players, but they're past their prime at this point and no longer can be asked to carry the type of load that they have in years past.

At this point, the best the Spurs can do is solider on without Leonard and make sure they hang on to home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. There is the possibility that Leonard returns in the playoffs and if the Spurs can get home court advantage for the first round, they could look at possibly bringing him back for the conference semifinals. While it's unclear how much Leonard could help them if he were to come back at that point, they would still be better with him on the floor playing at 80% than having him on the sidelines in a suit.

                                          (Getty Images) 

The biggest concern for the Spurs is what this means for Leonard's long term future with the team. There are some who believe the real reason he is sitting out is because he's disgruntled and unhappy being in San Antonio. If this is true, then the Spurs have something far more serious to worry about than a quadriceps injury. Leonard has two more seasons left on his contract before he hits unrestricted free agency. As much as they don't want to think about it, if Leonard actually does want out of San Antonio, the Spurs should consider moving him and getting something back for him before he walks away in free agency.

The absence of Kawhi Leonard looms large for the Spurs both for this season and possibly beyond. He's been billed as their next franchise player following Tim Duncan and if he isn't interested in being the next great Spur, they have a lot of things to think about. Fortunately for the Spurs, they do have Leonard under contract for the next little while so they don't have to immediately think about moving him. Right now, their main focus needs to be on making the playoffs and putting themselves in a position to make some noise in the event that Leonard is able to return.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Kawhi Leonard has solid season debut for the San Antonio Spurs

                                          (Getty Images) 

On Tuesday, Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) made his long awaited season debut against the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 13 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in 16 minutes of action. The Spurs lost the game 95-89, putting them at 3rd in the Western Conference with a 19-9 record. While the game didn't go the way the Spurs would have liked, they have to be pleased with how Leonard performed. His shot looked pretty fluid and he wasted no time getting into a groove, scoring 6 points within the first 5 minutes of the game.

While Leonard looked good, it was still clear that he wasn't 100%. He didn't make a lot of hard cuts to the basket and didn't throw down any dunks. He looked to be about 75-80% out there and it'll probably be at least a couple of weeks before he gets back to full strength.

What's most impressive in all of this is the fact that the Spurs went 18-9 without Leonard, who is considered by many to be the best player in the NBA. Many teams would have struggled to fill the void of their superstar, but the Spurs came together and found a way to make up for his absence through playing team basketball and buying into the system of their legendary coach Gregg Popovich.

LaMarcus Aldridge in particular really stepped up, averaging 22.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He did a really good job of being the go to option in Leonard's absence and really shouldering the scoring load. Rudy Gay and Kyle Anderson also deserve a lot of credit for the way they filled in at the small forward spot. Together, they combined for over 20 points per game and did a stellar job at giving the Spurs production out on the wing. Without Aldridge, Gay, and Anderson, the Spurs wouldn't have survived like they did.

While it will be no easy task for the Spurs to win the Western Conference crown, they have to like where they sit right now. They're 3.0 games back of the Golden State Warriors and 3.5 games back of the Houston Rockets. Provided Kawhi Leonard can stay healthy going forward, they're going to be really difficult to stop come May and possibly June.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: How long can the San Antonio Spurs survive without Kawhi Leonard?

The San Antonio Spurs are 8-5 and currently 3rd place in the Western Conference. While this appears to be business as usual, the Spurs have had to make due without their superstar Kawhi Leonard, who is yet to play in a game this season due to a quadriceps injury. Even worse, he's expected to be out for a few more weeks, putting his return sometime in December at the earliest.

It's no secret that the Spurs are masters of making due with a shorthanded lineup. It is said that Gregg Popovich can grab any five guys off the street and get them to play team basketball. While this principle is certainly true, it would still be foolish to suggest that the Spurs can maintain long-term success without Leonard.

What makes Leonard such a valuable piece to this team is that he literally does everything. He defends both out on the perimeter and in the paint, he can score both inside and out, and he's absolutely lethal in transition due to his combination of size, speed, quickness, and athleticism. There are some who feel Leonard is the best player in the NBA and when you watch him do his thing on the court, it's hard to argue against that position. He is a jack-of-all-trades wing that continues to get better every season.

                                          (Getty Images) 

Fortunately for the Spurs, they have a really talented big man in LaMarcus Aldridge, who is averaging 21.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Aldridge is able to carry more of the scoring load in Leonard's absence and act as a legitimate number one option. In addition to Aldridge, the Spurs have a talented veteran wing in Rudy Gay, who has been averaging 13.0 points and 5.4 rebounds on 47.7% shooting from the field, 41.4% shooting from 3-point range, and 83.8% shooting from the foul line.

In addition to those guys, the Spurs have some quality role players in Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Patty Mills, and Pau Gasol. The Spurs are once again showing that they are a true team. When one guy goes down, even if it's their superstar, they know how to keep the ship afloat.

As for how long the Spurs can survive without Kawhi Leonard, I think the answer is that they can survive just fine so long as he does eventually come back. They can't win a title without him. That's pretty obvious. However, they can play above .500 basketball and keep themselves in the mix to get a top three or four seed in the Western Conference until he returns.

If you are the Spurs, the main thing you need to do is stay patient and make sure Leonard doesn't come back until he is 100% or very close to it. While it may seem tempting to rush him back a bit sooner, if you have been around the block as many times as the Spurs, you have the luxury to give Leonard all the time he needs. It looks like they are taking this approach and I expect it to pay off for them come April and May.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The San Antonio Spurs need Kawhi Leonard to stay healthy

Over the weekend, it was revealed that Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss the entire preseason as he continues to rehab from a right quadriceps injury. Last season, the San Antonio Spurs appeared to be on the verge of upsetting the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals until Leonard went down with a sprained ankle, keeping him out for the rest of the series.

While this is the preseason and not the playoffs, it is not good for the Spurs to start their season right where they left off, which is with an injured Kawhi Leonard. In order for them to come out of the Western Conference, they need to have Leonard playing his best basketball. If he isn't able to stay healthy, they have no chance at reaching the NBA Finals.

While this should be obvious to everyone who follows the NBA, it is still important to underscore this. With all the major moves that happened this offseason, it is easy to forget about the Spurs and just how dangerous they are. They were perhaps a healthy Kawhi Leonard away from winning the NBA Finals last season, which just goes to show how good Leonard is and how significant his health is to the fate of this NBA season.

Last season, Leonard averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game on 48.5% shooting from the field, 38.0% shooting from three-point range, and 88.0% shooting from the foul line, establishing himself as one of the most multidimensional players in the league. He does so much for this Spurs team on both of the floor. With him, they can compete with any team in the league over the course of a seven game series. Without him, they're a playoff team that might win a first round series. His impact is that significant.

                                          (Getty Images) 

Hopefully, Leonard's absence in the preseason is just an indicator of the Spurs being extra cautious with him and nothing more than that. If he's ready to roll on opening night without any restrictions, it will be fair to wonder whether or not this blog post is an overreaction to what happened last season. At the same time, given what happened last season, it's hard to call this an overreaction after seeing what happened to the Spurs once Leonard went down.

It should be noted that the Spurs have other things to worry about in addition to Leonard's health. Tony Parker is recovering from a torn quadriceps tendon and it isn't yet clear when he'll be able to play. The Spurs can't afford to start the season with two of their best players unable to contribute. At the very least, they need to have Leonard ready to rock and hope that Parker is able to return sooner rather than later. As good as LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay are, they are a supplement to those two guys and aren't the pulse of this team. They'll play much better when they have those guys to lean on.

At this point, if you are the Spurs, you just have to hope that Leonard is able to go at the start of the regular season and that this quadriceps injury isn't anything too serious. The Spurs have the pieces to contend for a title this season, but they need to stay healthy and make sure they don't get themselves behind the eight ball early on. The Western Conference is simply too loaded for them to overcome a sluggish start to the season.

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Saturday Slam: Making sense of Kyrie Irving's request for a trade

                                                   (Akron Beacon Journal) 


The big story of the week is the report that Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland and is pushing for a trade. The New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat are said to be the teams that he is most interested in joining, though the Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately control his fate.

When I first heard the news I was surprised given the sheer magnitude of the story and what it could mean for the NBA, but upon further reflection, I'm not surprised at all. Irving has always wanted to be the number one option on a team and so long as he played alongside LeBron James, he wasn't going to get his wish. He's won a championship with the Cavaliers and has been to the NBA Finals three straight years. He rightfully feels like now is a good time for him to move on to a new city and forge his own path separate from LeBron.

Whether you feel like this is the right move for Irving or not, one cannot deny that the Cavaliers were never his team with LeBron around. While there's no shame in being second fiddle to a guy of LeBron's magnitude, one can certainly understand why Irving would ultimately want to spread his wings and fly away. He's proven himself as one of the top players in the NBA and as such is deserving of having a franchise built around him.

As far as where he might land, I don't see the Cavaliers trading him to another Eastern Conference team. It just wouldn't make sense for them to help out a team that competes in the same conference as them. Rather, it would make more sense for them to ship him out West and allow him to make the Western Conference even more of a logjam than it already is.

Out of all the teams in the West that he could go to, the Spurs seem to make the most sense. They could use another superstar to go alongside Kawhi Leonard and they also have an attractive trade chip in LaMarcus Aldridge who has been rumored to want out of his situation as well. A trade sending Aldridge to the Cavaliers and Irving to the Spurs would make sense for both sides. Aldridge would be a very nice number two option for LeBron to play with while Irving would be a nice upgrade over Aldridge, giving the Spurs more versatility in the backcourt.

During the coming weeks, it will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out. I expect Irving to be traded relatively soon since the Cavaliers won't want to have to deal with him as a distraction come training camp. At the same time, the Cavaliers shouldn't rush to make a move, either. Irving is a very valuable piece and if you are going to trade him, you better make sure you get back something really good.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: What does Rudy Gay bring to the San Antonio Spurs?

While they didn't make the biggest splash in free agency, the San Antonio Spurs still found a way to get significantly better by signing Rudy Gay. Gay, who is entering his 12th season in the NBA, averaged 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season with the Sacramento Kings. Those aren't bad numbers for a veteran swingman.

When looking at this move, there's a lot to like if you are the Spurs. First, you get a guy who can become your number two or number three scoring option behind Kawhi Leonard, who averaged 25.5 points per game last season. LaMarcus Aldridge averaged a very solid 17.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, but after that, there was a bit of a drop off to Pau Gasol, who was the third scoring option on the team (12.4 points). It was clear that the Spurs needed more of a scoring punch in order to compete with a team like the Golden State Warriors and adding Gay certainly addresses this need.

In addition to giving the Spurs another scoring threat, Rudy Gay provides some veteran leadership. With Tim Duncan gone and Manu Ginobili entering what could be his final season, the Spurs could use another veteran leader to help them dig deep against a team like the Warriors. While the Spurs still have Tony Parker and a veteran head coach in Gregg Popovich, it won't hurt to have another veteran like Gay who is battle tested and hungry for a ring.

Lastly, Gay gives the Spurs another guy to match up against Kevin Durant. At 6'8", 230 pounds, Gay has the size and length to guard Durant and give him some trouble. At the moment, the only guy who the Spurs have that can really guard Durant is Kawhi Leonard. Adding a second swingman that can guard him will help take some of the defensive pressure off of Leonard and allow him to guard Durant more effectively when he is on him.

When looking at what Rudy Gay brings to the Spurs, it's pretty obvious why he's such a great addition for them. He provides scoring, leadership, and more versatility on defense. I don't know if this move pushes the Spurs over the top, but it makes them a lot better. When you consider the options that the Spurs had to work with in free agency, they really couldn't have asked to land a better player.

Tomahawk Tuesday is a weekly piece that focuses on the Western Conference. 

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Western Conference Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tips off today (Sunday) at 3:30 PM EST on ABC in Oakland, CA with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs squaring off. The Warriors come into this series having swept the Utah Jazz 4-0 while the Spurs come in having taken out the Houston Rockets in six games.

The big question that is on everyone's minds as we enter this series is whether or not the Warriors have finally found their match in the Spurs or at least an opponent who they won't be able to sweep. So far, the Warriors have been on absolute cruise control, not dropping a single game through two rounds.

While the Warriors are and should be favored to win this series, I do not see this series being another sweep for Golden State. The Spurs are just too experienced and talented to go down without a fight. While the Warriors have perhaps the most dangerous two-way lineup the league has ever seen in Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, the Spurs have some pieces of their own in Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, and Danny Green.

Don't get me wrong, the Warriors' lineup is better on paper, but where the Spurs can make up the difference is the way they play together as a team and also the presence of Kawhi Leonard, who is arguably the best player in the NBA. For those that don't know, Leonard (ankle) will play in Game 1 of this series, which is obviously fantastic news for the Spurs. If the Spurs want any chance of winning this series, they need to have a big series from Leonard and also find ways to get Aldridge, Gasol, Ginobili, Mills, and Green rolling.

The Spurs have somewhat strayed away from their usual model of getting everyone involved through having Kawhi Leonard carry them perhaps too much. It's a tricky line to balance since on the one hand you want your best player making plays, but at the same time you don't want to stray away from the identity that has made you a championship contender since the late 1990s. If the Spurs can find that right balance, they could have what it takes to win this series.

As for the Warriors, if they want to win this series, they just have to keep doing what they are doing. As cliché as that sounds, it's really true. The Warriors have been the best team in basketball all season and it's up to the Spurs to make the necessary adjustments to make this series competitive. Kevin Durant has been brilliant so far in these playoffs and Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, and Green have proven themselves to be a fantastic supporting cast around him. The bottom line is the Warriors are just too loaded and it's really hard to see them not winning this series in five or six games.

Given that I really respect the Spurs and the ability that Gregg Popovich has to make adjustments, I have the Warriors winning this series in six games. The Spurs will find ways to make things tough, but in the end, they won't be able to take this series to a Game 7 in Oakland.

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets

The #2 seeded San Antonio Spurs and #3 seeded Houston Rockets will face off in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Game 1 will be held tonight (Monday) at 9:30 PM EST on TNT. The Spurs took out the Grizzlies in six games while the Rockets took out the Thunder in five games.

When looking at this series, what stands out is the matchup between Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard and Rockets shooting guard James Harden. Leonard averaged 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game in the series against the Grizzlies, while Harden averaged 33.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game against the Thunder. Both guys will be expected to deliver the goods for their respective teams and live up to their MVP billing.

If the Spurs are going to win this series, they'll need more than just Kawhi Leonard. LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker will need to come up big as well. Both guys played well against the Grizzlies, but they'll need to continue to provide the type of support that Leonard needs. Pau Gasol will also likely need to produce more than the 6.5 points per game that he was averaging against the Grizzlies. If this turns into the Kawhi Leonard show, the Spurs could be in trouble due to the plethora of weapons that the Rockets have.

In addition to James Harden, the Rockets have other guys who give defenses trouble in Eric Gordon, Nene, Lou Williams, and Ryan Anderson. Even their defensive specialist on the perimeter Patrick Beverley knows how to score when needed. The Rockets' potency on offense will make them a tough opponent for the Spurs and will require the Spurs to play excellent defense both on the perimeter and down on the block.

The big advantage the Spurs have over the Rockets is that the style they play is a more proven formula for success. The Spurs have a nice blend of inside and outside play with Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Tony Parker as their core trio. Leonard is a Swiss army knife that does it all, giving them a lot of versatility on offense and defense.

The Rockets in contrast heavily rely on their three-point shooting and truly adhere to the mantra "Live by the three, die by the three." When the Rockets heat up from beyond the arc, they are very difficult to stop. When they get cold and the shots aren't falling, they suddenly become very vulnerable.

The Rockets' ability to get hot will make this series interesting, but given that Gregg Popovich's system is more proven for playoff success than the run and gun system of Mike D'Antoni, I see the Spurs coming out on top in six games. Kawhi Leonard will win the matchup against James Harden and the Spurs' championship pedigree will shine through.

Note: To listen to the NBALord.com podcast that previews this series, click here. 

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NBALord.com Podcast: Breaking down the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com podcast, I break down the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs up until this point. I especially focus on the series' that are tied 2-2 (Celtics-Bulls, Raptors-Bucks, Spurs-Grizzlies, and Clippers-Jazz). 

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies

In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the #2 seeded San Antonio Spurs (61-21) will take on the #7 seeded Memphis Grizzlies (43-39). The regular season series is split at 2-2. Game 1 will tip off on Saturday at 8:00 PM EST on ESPN.

Despite the huge gap in records, this series could be a lot more competitive than expected. While the Spurs are a true championship contender with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge at the helm, it isn't like the Grizzlies are chopped liver. They have plenty of playoff experience and have a very solid trio consisting of Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies are dangerous and certainly have the pieces to give the Spurs a good scare.

If you listen to the podcast that accompanies this preview, you would know that one of the things talked about is how the Grizzlies have been jinxed by injuries over the years. Shortly after recording the podcast, news broke that Tony Allen is out indefinitely due to a muscle strain in his right leg and isn't expected to play in the series. Without Tony Allen, the Grizzlies lose their best perimeter defender and the heart and soul of their defensive identity. His absence is huge and makes things a lot tougher for the Grizzlies to win this series.

The Spurs on the flip side are at full strength, which gives them a huge advantage in this series. Without Tony Allen in their grill, guys like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Tony Parker should have a much easier time scoring from the perimeter and attacking the rim off the dribble. Look for the Spurs to take full advantage of Allen's absence in this series.

While it is true that the absence of Tony Allen puts the Grizzlies behind the eight ball, it isn't like the Grizzlies can't win this series. They can. We've seen them win playoff games on the road before and thrive in the underdog role. If the Grizzlies want to win this series, they'll need to get stellar production from the Conley, Randolph, Gasol trio and really muck up the game with their grit and grind style. If they can slow the pace down and limit the amount of possessions on both sides, they'll give themselves a shot at winning this series.

As far as the Spurs are concerned, what they need to do is take advantage of the fact that they have the best player in this series in Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is averaging 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He's perhaps the best two-way player in the NBA and is a legitimate MVP candidate. If Leonard has a big series, the Grizzlies are toast. It's that simple. The Grizzlies have to do all they can to slow him down and force the Spurs to rely more on their other guys.

In addition to Leonard, the Spurs also have LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and other weapons. The Spurs are the much deeper team, so it isn't like slowing Leonard guarantees a win for the Grizzlies. The Spurs should be able to overwhelm the Grizzlies with their plethora of options to the point that if Leonard has an off night, they'll still win.

When it comes to making a prediction for this series, I said in the podcast that the Spurs will win the series in six games and even with Tony Allen out, I'll stand by that prediction. The Spurs do have more weapons, but the Grizzlies' trio of Conley, Randolph, and Gasol should be able to extend this series to a Game 6. The Spurs will come out on top because they have more weapons, but the Grizzlies won't make it easy.





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Tomahawk Tuesday: Is Kawhi Leonard the best player in the NBA?

                                         (Credit: YouTube. Click here for video) 

At 6'7", 230 pounds, Kawhi Leonard is averaging 26.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game on 48.6% shooting from the field, 37.2% shooting from three-point range, and 88.5% shooting from the foul line.  He is the leader of this new generation San Antonio Spurs team, guiding them to a 57-16 record, which is second only to the 59-14 Golden State Warriors. Leonard certainly has a very impressive resume, but is he really the best player in the NBA over the likes of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Isaiah Thomas, and Anthony Davis?

Below is a quick breakdown of each of those player's statistics and the record of their respective teams. By looking at these numbers, we can better determine if Leonard is in fact the best player in the NBA.

Russell Westbrook: 31.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 42.3% shooting from the field, 33.4% shooting from three-point range, and 84.0% shooting from the foul line. Oklahoma City Thunder record: 42-31 (6th in the Western Conference).

LeBron James: 26.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 54.2% shooting from the field, 37.3% shooting from three-point range, and 67.9% shooing from the foul line. Cleveland Cavaliers record: 47-26 (2nd in the Eastern Conference).

James Harden: 29.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 1.5 steals,  44.8% shooting from the field, 35.2% shooting from three-point range, and 84.8% shooting from the foul line. Houston Rockets record: 51-22 (3rd in the Western Conference).

Kevin Durant: 25.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.6 blocks,  53.7% shooting from the field, 37.8% shooting from three-point range, and 87.6% shooting from the foul line. Golden State Warriors record: 59-14 (1st in the Western Conference).

Stephen Curry: 24.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.8 steals,  46.3% shooting from the field, 40.0% from three-point range, and 91.8% shooting from the foul line. Golden State Warriors record: 59-14 (1st in the Western Conference).

Isaiah Thomas: 29.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 46.2% shooting from the field, 37.9% from three-point range, and 91.1% shooting from the foul line. Boston Celtics record: 48-26 (1st in the Eastern Conference).

Anthony Davis: 27.9 points, 12 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.2 blocks, 50.6% shooting from the field, 31.3% shooting from three-point range, and 79.7% shooting from the foul line. New Orleans Pelicans record: 31-43 (11th in the Western Conference).

When comparing these players to each other, what needs to be factored in is both their individual statistics and the success of their teams. For example, Russell Westbrook is putting up the most gaudy numbers with the triple-double average, but his team is 6th in the Western Conference. Can we really say he's better than Kawhi Leonard when his team isn't doing nearly as well?

When factoring in both individual success and team success, it's pretty clear that there is no clear cut front runner for best player in the NBA. One could easily argue for why each of these players is the best player in the NBA.

The argument that one would make for Kawhi Leonard is that he is the most multi-dimensional player in the NBA and that he is leading his team to the second best record in the NBA. What makes Leonard so scary is that he is no longer just an athletic freak that plays basketball. He's become a skilled basketball player that is also an athletic freak. Look at his shooting numbers: 26.0 points per game on 48.6% shooting from the field, 37.2% shooting from three-point range, and 88.5% shooting from the foul line. The dude can stroke it and when you combine that with his freakish athleticism, you got yourself a scary good basketball player.

                                          (Credit: SD Dirk. Click here for source). 

The biggest concern that NBA scouts had about Kawhi Leonard when he was coming out of San Diego State was whether or not he could shoot at an elite level in the NBA. They were sold on his athleticism, but his shooting was a major question mark. Judging by his shooting numbers, I think Leonard has proven that his shooting is no longer an issue. As a matter of fact, it has become a major strength of his.

By improving his shooting so much, Kawhi Leonard is now a guy who can truly get it done on both ends of the floor. He defends and shoots at an elite level, and he also is able to get rebounds and dish out assists. While I would still take LeBron James on my team in the NBA Finals, I think it's safe to say that Kawhi Leonard is approaching that status. If anything, he might even be better considering that he has better shooting numbers.

When Kawhi Leonard went #15 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, I was really surprised considering his overall potential. I suggested that the Utah Jazz should have grabbed him at #3 overall and looking back on it, they definitely should have. As a matter of fact, if there was a do over of the 2011 NBA Draft, Kawhi Leonard may have gone #1 overall ahead of Kyrie Irving. What's even more crazy is that Isaiah Thomas would have gone #3 instead of #60.

The bottom line is that Kawhi Leonard has firmly established himself as an elite NBA player and is rightfully in the discussion of being the best player in the NBA. He's always had the athleticism, but now that he has the skills to go along with it, it's pretty tough to argue that there is someone else out there with a more complete package.

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