NBA: Ranking the top 9 MVP candidates at the All-Star break
By Kyle Crabbe
5. Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
2018-19 Season Stats: 43 Games Played, 27.0 ppg, 7.7 Reb pg, 3.3 Ast pg, 1.9 Stl pg, .492 Fg %, .363 3-pt %, .864 FT %
2018-19 Win Shares:
Offensive Win Shares: 4.8 (Ranked 12th)
Defensive Win Shares: 2.4
Total Win Shares: 7.2 (Ranked 10th)
Kawhi Leonard, in his first season outside the great San Antonio Spurs organization, has shown he is still a great basketball player. Leonard has brought elite play on both sides of the court for the Toronto Raptors which has helped keep Toronto near to top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Leonard has played at NBA MVP levels while being top 10 in points per game, top 5 in steals per game, in addition to being top 5 in Player Efficiency. Leonard has been a two-way juggernaut in Toronto which will keep his name in the MVP debate till the season commences.
There’s no question that Kawhi will get MVP consideration, whether he manages to win it or not is an entirely different question.