Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard
This might be my favorite comparison of the three. Before all of you freak out and start a riot, remember that we are comparing their rookie years. No one knew Kawhi was going to become the NBA Finals MVP and a top three player in the league after his rookie season. Just like no one knows if Jaylen Brown is going to become a two-way nightmare of a player, or if he already reached his peak as a player statistics wise after his rookie season. That is the beauty in projecting young talent in the league.
Kawhi went to San Diego State where he averaged a career 14.1 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 44 percent from the field. Leonard was a guy that slid down draft boards because of worries from behind the arc, where he only shot 25 percent. However, there was no question that his athletic ability and defensive potential would translate to the league.
Jaylen Brown went to another west coast school, California, where he averaged 14.6 points, and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 43 percent from the field. Both players were the exact same height and weight in college (6’7 225lbs.), but due to each teams personnel, Jaylen was more of a perimeter wing, while Kawhi was forced to play the four in many sets.
This is why Kawhi has the rebounding advantage, and Jaylen has the slight edge in 3-point shooting, even though its nothing to ride home about (29 percent from three).
Both Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown were drafted based on their athletic ability, size, strength, and their potential to develop into versatile wing defenders who could guard one through four. Both players were drafted to teams that were ready to compete for a championship. Legitimate contenders from the moment they stepped foot into their respected franchises.
Kawhi averaged 7.9 points, and 5.1 rebounds while shooting a surprising 37 percent from three-point line as a rookie for the Spurs. Leonard started 39 games while playing 24 minutes per game, with an average 6.3 shot attempts per game.
Having a slightly lesser role as a rookie in Boston last year, Jaylen averaged 6.6 points, and 2.8 rebounds per game, and also like Leonard, boosted his long range percentage from college to 34 percent. Brown only started 20 games last year, and averaged 17 minutes a game, shooting one less shot attempt per game than Kawhi.
Both players were highly efficient players in fast break opportunities, and shot above 50 percent from two. Jaylen’s ability to finish around the rim through traffic was very similar to Kawhi’s his rookie year in 2012, but Brown had the edge in aggressiveness. Jaylen shot 124 free throws compared to Kawhi’s 88 despite the Klaw having the giant edge in playing time.
Both players were put in very good offensively coached schemes. Popovich’s second to none when it comes to drawing up plays for specific situations, and Brad Stevens is a young mastermind when it comes to preparation and knowing the opposing teams personnel. Both Leonard and Brown were on teams that had excellent ball movement and made a living off of finishing extra pass assists in the corner for 3.
Jaylen had a right corner three usage rate of 5.5 compared to Kawhi’s 5.2 (both very high) and a left corner three usage rate of 6.7 compared to Kawhi’s 6.9. Kawhi shot 46.5 percent from the corner compared to Jaylen’s 43.5, both exactly 9.5 percent higher than their total percentages from deep.
The biggest discrepancy between the two that I know you all are dying to point out to me is their impact on the defensive end. Yes, Kawhi might be the best on ball defender in the league today, but he didn’t start out this way. Granted, he was still a ball hawk as a rookie, recording 1.3 steals a game (third among rookies), but Jaylen is no slouch. Kawhi recorded a .024 defensive win shares compared to Jaylen Browns .020.
Both players have an obvious athletic advantage over the majority of players they are guarding defensively. As you can see above, Jaylen has the knack for getting his hands on the ball to tip passes and block shots. His help defense I.Q. is already years beyond what it should be, as you watch him get a ton of weak side help steals and deflections. His size, quickness, and length allow him to guard anyone from Kyle Lowry, to LeBron James, to LaMarcus Aldridge.
In today’s game of positionless basketball, Brown is exactly the type of wing defender that is mandatory in order to contend for a ring.
One last similarity they both have had at a young age is playing against the greatest. Kawhi has had to match up in pivotal playoff games against LeBron in the Finals throughout his young career. Jaylen Brown and the Celtics had their hands full with the King last year, and that doesn’t look to slow down in the East anytime soon. Brown will grow quickly, being forced to try to stop LeBron for many years to come. To be the best, you have to beat the best.