Kawhi Leonard has always been jokingly referred to as a robot, but this season his offensive efficiency has been quite robotically accurate. Leonard is averaging 24.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 53.3% from the field, 45.7% from three, and 89.2% from the line.
He can end the season averaging the rare 50-40-90 club, an achievement for playing averaging 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the line. We’ve seen this feat 13 times, with the most recent inclusion being Kevin Durant last year. Leonard got real on achieving the feat, reminding people that he was not doing this for the stats.
“I mean, I wanna make every shot that I shoot pretty much, I think every player does. But I’m not out there playing for the numbers. I’m out there playing the same game, make or miss.”
Kawhi Leonard on possibly joining the 50/40/90 club:
“I mean, I wanna make every shot that I shoot… But I’m not out there playing for the numbers.” pic.twitter.com/IHU51CNPn4
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) February 6, 2024
If you have a volume scorer shooting with this much efficiency, you’re bound to win games. The Clippers are in the race for the No. 1 seed in the West with a 34-15 record. They have a 25-5 record over the last 30 games and are looking like championship contenders.
The 50-40-90 Club has been joined by 9 players, featuring the likes of Larry Bird (2x), Steve Nash (4x), Kevin Durant (2x), Dirk Nowitzki, Kyrie Irving, and Stephen Curry, among others.
Kawhi Leonard Mounting An MVP Challenge
This season’s MVP race has been dramatically altered after Joel Embiid suffered a knee injury. He’s bound to miss eligibility for the award, opening it up to one of the other contenders. Luka Doncic has the numbers but doesn’t have the wins, which brings Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo to the forefront of the conversation.
Kawhi Leonard deserves to be mentioned among the MVP contenders this season. especially with his crucial contributions to the Clippers’ success.
He has missed only four games so far this season, and his team has a 32-13 record when he plays. He is still one of the league’s best defenders and is shining this season. While Leonard hasn’t been in MVP conversations, it’s time to recognize that the Klaw is on an MVP trajectory, especially if the Clippers end the season atop the Western Conference.
Leonard is averaging 26.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists over the last 30 games, shooting 56.8% from the field, 51.0% from three, and 92.2% from the free throw line. With his status as one of the best defenders in the NBA playing with such surgical offensive production, it’s impossible to not consider him as an MVP candidate.
It’ll be unlikely that he ends up winning it because the team’s success is also because of Paul George and James Harden. Both players are also averaging out to be almost 20-point scorers, which will naturally dampen Leonard’s numbers while opening up the floor for him to be as efficient as he has been.
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