Kawhi Leonard: A strong NBA MVP candidate in 2017-18

As he continues to improve his craft on a year to year basis, Kawhi Leonard should be in the mix for the Most Valuable Player award in 2017-18

Kawhi Leonard has come a long way from being a complementary piece beside Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. Leonard’s playing time and production have increased notably in each of his six years in the league.

However, Leonard found a way to make a strong and unique impact early in his career without being a primary focal point. His defense-first mentality quickly won over the respect of legendary coach Gregg Popovich. That led to more opportunities and ultimately a chance to outshine LeBron James and claim MVP of the 2014 NBA Finals.

It is a common notion that Leonard prefers to keep all emotions inside him on the court. Although recent reports suggest he smiles from time to time, Leonard is known to often carry the same blank expression off the floor. Leonard is a rare breed, not just in terms of playing style, but also how he approaches the game.

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Many of today’s stars (John Wall, James Harden, etc.) show flashes of emotion after making a spectacular play. Leonard treats the situation like he expects greatness out of himself on the regular.

Leonard possessed star-like numbers, averaging 25.5 points per game on 48.5 percent shooting last season. However, his two-way prowess goes far beyond statistics. There is not a single statistic that accurately defines defensive effort and consistency. Leonard would likely be in the upper-echelon if there were such a mechanism for tracking energy exerted while competing with opposing stars.

With the exception of Jimmy Butler and a couple others, few talents blossom into offensive juggernauts after coming into the NBA as solely a defensive stopper. It often happens the other way around. For example, Kevin Durant was a scoring machine from the get-go and gradually emerged as a highly effective force on the defensive end. Other premier players tend to lose focus on the defensive end with more responsibility on offense. Leonard takes no plays off and that is part of what makes him such a special player.

Perhaps it is his far developed jump-shooting ability that surprises NBA observers most. He went from being hesitant to take open looks to demanding the ball in crunch time. According to NBAMiner.com, Leonard ranked 14th in total points during crunch time (under five minutes remaining with neither team leading by over five points) last season. He has shot over 49.5 percent the past two years and become somewhat of a high-volume shooter during that span.

In the previous two seasons, the Spurs have been outscored by approximately seven points per 100 possessions without Leonard in the game. A Spurs team generally known to quietly have one of the deepest and most dangerous rosters is suddenly becoming more vulnerable. The team opted to keep 37-year-old veteran Pau Gasol around on a three-year deal worth up to 48 million dollars.

It also re-signed sharpshooting point guard Patty Mills. On the other hand, the Spurs were unable to retain Jonathon Simmons and Dewayne Dedmon, a pair of young players that brought paramount energy and intangibles to the table.

Parker is well past his prime and coming off season-ending quad surgery. Danny Green seems to have middled out as a perimeter-oriented role player. LaMarcus Aldridge has not been the prized possession he was in Portland. Second-year guard Dejounte Murray is on the come up but surely needs time to become a team leader and starting-caliber point guard.

Wingman Kyle Anderson is a skilled player but leaves a lot to be desired with his limited athleticism and ultra-slow foot speed. Rudy Gay, 31, was added to the mix on a two-year, team-friendly contract. However, he has struggled with major injuries lately and may not be able to fill the necessary void.

The Western Conference has become even more star-studded this year. The powerhouse Warriors will obviously continue to pose an overwhelming threat to all of its competitors. The Rockets acquired Chris Paul, in what many consider a questionable fit, to start alongside Harden in the backcourt. 2017 MVP Westbrook now has the luxury of playing with another lethal weapon in Paul George.

The Timberwolves also assembled a supremely capable team this offseason with several key additions. Then there are the Clippers and Jazz, who are one star less, but still worth mentioning.

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There is no reason to believe Leonard cannot legitimately battle for the league’s Most Valuable Player honors in 2017-18. There is no such thing as too tall an order for the former San Diego State standout, who managed to slip just outside of the 2011 draft lottery (15th pick). With San Antonio’s championship window arguably getting slimmer each year, Kawhi Leonard will look to continue leading this organization in heroic fashion.