Kawhi Leonard has concluded a historic postseason run with an NBA championship and his second Finals MVP Award. Comparisons to Michael Jordan have surfaced, but are they valid? Does bringing a championship to the Raptors in his first season with the squad, prove that Leonard deserves to be mentioned with arguably the greatest player of all-time?
We’ve seen comparisons to Michael Jordan go wrong in the past. But even MJ himself claims that:
"“Kawhi is probably the best in the game.”"
Kawhi’s buzzer-beater over Joel Embiid’s outstretched hand does look reminiscent of Jordan nailing a shot against Craig Ehlo.
The comparison between these two players goes far beyond just one game-winner. What Kawhi has accomplished at 27 years old is phenomenal. Each of his two NBA titles has prevented a dynasty from completing a three-peat. He’s a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and has been named to the All-NBA squad on three occasions.
After playing just nine games last season with the Spurs, Kawhi found himself with a new squad in Toronto. It didn’t matter that the Raptors had never advanced past the Eastern Conference Finals. Kawhi Leonard made up his mind that he was going to will this team to an NBA championship.
At 27 years old Michael Jordan was hoisting an NBA championship trophy for the first time. The individual accolades were there. He won Rookie of the Year in 1985 and was named MVP in 1988. The All-Defense accolades were present.
Kawhi having one more ring than Jordan at the same stage in their careers doesn’t automatically put him in the same conversation as MJ. We can’t forget that Kawhi’s teammates for his first ring were veterans Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. There was a system in place in San Antonio, and all Kawhi Leonard needed to do was play his part. Kawhi Leonard had three Hall-of-Fame teammates on that squad. Michael Jordan played with two Hall of Famers, in Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, his entire career.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some pretty significant comparisons between the two players. Both have incredible size and wingspan, allowing them to dominate the game on both ends of the floor. The ability to control the basketball without much effort is also incredible. You simply can’t teach genetics.
Even Kawhi Leonard’s step back jumper (with a slight push off) from last night’s game is reminiscent of Jordan’s “The Last Shot” over Bryon Russell and the Utah Jazz in 1998.
Kawhi doing a pretty solid MJ impression right here.https://t.co/rdueFm77TQ
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) June 14, 2019
Kawhi Leonard averaged 30.5 points per game this postseason. But let’s not forget that Jordan averaged 33 points a game in the postseason for his entire career. Kawhi Leonard needs to continue to play at this level for years to come to rightfully earn the comparisons to Jordan.
A return to the NBA Finals isn’t certain for Leonard. We don’t know if free agency this summer will put him back in a Raptors uniform next year. Even if it does, this Raptors team is a veteran group. Marc Gasol is 34, and Kyle Lowry is 33. Not to mention younger contenders in the Eastern Conference, like the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks, have superstars that haven’t even touched the prime of their careers.
There is one deciding factor that will determine if Kawhi Leonard is as good as Michael Jordan. That factor is dominance. Not just controlling a game, or making baskets when it counts. But can he dominate the entire league for an extended period of time? With young players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic barely scratching the surface of their prime, dominating the NBA for any length of time is going to be nearly impossible for Kawhi, regardless of the team he decides to sign with.
Michael Jordan never lost in the NBA Finals. It didn’t matter what the roster assembled around him looked like, he was going to make sure that his team got the job done in June. At some point in his career, Michael Jordan defeated every NBA superstar that stood in his way.
How NBA rosters are constructed today, that isn’t an easy feat for Kawhi. Even after defeating the Warriors in six games, the questions of what would have happened if Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson were healthy are certainly valid. Would Kawhi have defeated that roster at full strength?
Kawhi may never accomplish what it takes to be considered as good as Michael Jordan. Many great players have fallen short. Kobe Bryant lost in the NBA Finals twice. LeBron James has been defeated in the championship series six times. The era of their being one G.O.A.T is honestly something that only existed while Jordan was in the league.
Kawhi Leonard has accomplished something great this season. Let’s not forget that this year was assumed to be a pit stop before he signed to play with the Lakers or Clippers in free agency. There were reports that he was never going to suit up for the Raptors.
We don’t know what the remainder of his legacy will look like, or if he will ever live up to what Michael Jordan has accomplished. But at the conclusion of this season, he’s earned the right to have the last laugh.