- Larry Bird won three NBA championships in his career with the Boston Celtics
- All three players below are winners of two Finals MVP awards in their NBA careers
- Kawhi Leonard is the only player of these three to be honored with Defensive Player of the Year awards
Over the last few months, we have slowly introduced a formula we created to most accurately place NBA legends and current stars into their rightful place on all-time rankings. We went position by position from point guard to center. We evaluated the GOAT conversation using the same formula as well. We even used it to compare the careers of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry. Now, we thought we would use that formula to settle the ongoing debate between three legends of their era.
- Best Stats
- Most NBA Championships
- Most MVP Awards
- Most Finals MVP Awards
- Most Defensive Player Of The Year Awards
- Most All-NBA Team Selections
- Most All-Defensive Team Selections
- Most All-Star Selections
- Total Win Shares
- PER
- Who Has Had The Greatest NBA Career Out Of Kevin Durant, Larry Bird, And Kawhi Leonard?
Larry Bird, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard are undoubtedly three of the greatest small forwards in NBA history. At their peaks, it cannot be argued that they were the best players in the NBA at the time, or at minimum, in the top three. Each player led their respective teams to NBA championships and showcased their all-around skills as scorers, passers, defenders, rebounders, and playmakers. Now it is time to rank them in the right spots according to our formula and our formula only.
We believe that this formula accurately and rightfully depicts just how great each player is on an all-time level and fairly places them where they belong on that scale. It does not take away from any one player’s greatness as a whole but rather shows that there are levels to greatness itself.
This is the career comparison of Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Larry Bird.
Best Stats
1. Larry Bird – 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG (3 Points)
2. Kevin Durant – 27.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG (2 Points)
3. Kawhi Leonard – 19.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG (1 Point)
Simply going off the numbers they produced in their careers, Larry Bird takes our first category with relative ease. Sure, he wasn’t the scorer that Kevin Durant is in the entirety of their careers, but he is still among the elite players who ever played the game. When you add the fact that he averaged a double-double, over 6.0 assists per game, and 1.7 SPG, Bird’s all-around play trumps the production of both Durant and Leonard, even though they may be equal or exceed Bird’s numbers in some other categories.
Kevin Durant is arguably the most talented scorer in NBA history. His efficiency and methodical approach to offense make him one of the greatest weapons to ever step foot on the court. His numbers as both a playmaker and defender are underrated on an all-time scale which put him considerably above Kawhi when it comes to stats but still below Larry Bird to the naked eye.
As for Leonard, this isn’t to say his stats are not good because he has certainly proven himself in that regard. His defense is on par or better than the other two he is being compared to on this list. Where he is hurt in this sense is the lack of offensive production it will take to be considered on the same level as Bird and Durant. For such a defensive mastermind, his offensive numbers come in a little lackluster when speaking about the totality of their careers rather than simply their peaks.
Most NBA Championships
1. Larry Bird – 3 NBA Championships (3 Points)
T2. Kevin Durant – 2 NBA Championships (2 Points)
T2. Kawhi Leonard – 2 NBA Championships (2 Points)
When it comes to NBA championships, Larry Bird takes another category with his three titles during the 1980s with the Boston Celtics. In 1981 and 1986, Bird led Boston to wins over a tough Houston Rockets team led by big men such as Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon. In 1984, it was the Showtime Lakers who met their match with Bird and the Celtics as well. In his NBA Finals career, in which he went 3-2 overall, Bird averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard each delivered two NBA championships to their respective teams as well. Now, Durant’s championships may be held at a different standard, considering he had to go to Golden State to form one of the greatest teams ever in order to get it done. This is held in a different standard compared to Leonard who led his teams to wins over the Big 3 Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors of the 2010s.
Most MVP Awards
1. Larry Bird – 3 MVP Awards (3 Points)
2. Kevin Durant – 1 MVP Award (2 Points)
3. Kawhi Leonard – 0 MVP Awards (1 Point)
Larry Bird takes yet another category in this comparison, and this time it is for his three MVP awards during his career. Not only did Bird capture three MVP awards but he is the last player in NBA history to win three straight from 1984-1986. During this time, Bird averaged 26.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and leading the Celtics to no less than 62 wins in a season.
Kevin Durant should probably have more than one MVP award if we really dive into his play, especially earlier on in his career. Durant, as it stands, still has just one MVP which he won in 2014 as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2013-14, Durant would average 32.0 points per game, taking home his fourth career scoring title as well as 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 50/39/87 shooting splits.
Unfortunately, Kawhi Leonard has never been named MVP in his career. This has occurred simply because Leonard has saved his best stretches of play for when it matters most, in the NBA playoffs and the NBA Finals. This isn’t to say that he hasn’t had great stretches during the regular season, but has rarely been viewed as a top player in the MVP discussion.
Most Finals MVP Awards
T1. Larry Bird – 2 Finals MVP Awards (3 Points)
T1 – Kevin Durant – 2 Finals MVP Awards (3 Points)
T1 – Kawhi Leonard – 2 Finals MVP Awards (3 Points)
When it comes to elite performances during the NBA Finals, each one of these players has been voted on as the Finals MVP twice in their careers. Larry Bird was named Finals MVP in the Celtics wins during the 1984 and 1986 NBA Finals with wins over the Lakers and Rockets. In 1984 against the Lakers, Bird averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in a seven-game series win. In 1986, he would average 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in a six-game win over the Houston Rockets.
Kawhi Leonard’s two Finals MVP wins may be the most impressive of any of the three players here. In 2014, Kawhi was honored for his defensive efforts against LeBron James in a five-game series win over the Miami Heat. Leonard averaged 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game to seal the Spurs’ fifth NBA title. In 2019, in one of the most impressive Finals runs ever, Leonard delivered the Raptors their first NBA title, averaging 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game in a series win over the Golden State Warriors.
Finally, Kevin Durant was also honored with back-to-back Finals MVP awards for his efforts during the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals with the Warriors. Durant led the Warriors to these wins over a LeBron James-led Cavaliers team in each series. In 2017, it took five games of Durant averaging 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in a five-game series. In 2018, he would lead them to a sweep averaging 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
Most Defensive Player Of The Year Awards
1. Kawhi Leonard – 2 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (3 Points)
T2. Larry Bird – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (2 Points)
T2. Kevin Durant – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (2 Points)
Of these three players, only Kawhi Leonard has been named Defensive Player in their career. After leading the Spurs to an NBA title in 2014 on the back of his defense, Leonard would take home Defensive Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016. In 2015, Leonard led the NBA in steals with 2.3 steals per game while adding 1.8 steals per game in 2016. His versatile defensive effort gave him one of the greatest defensive peaks ever which was immortalized forever by honoring him with the award.
Kevin Durant and Larry Bird are not bad defenders by any stretch of the imagination. They are both incredibly smart and instinctive when it comes to playing on that side of the ball. Bird was active with his hands and read passing lanes almost impeccably. Durant has been an underrated defender for most of his career as a shot-blocker and as a shot-alterer. Neither has ever been on the level of the best defender in the league at any point in their careers, though.
Most All-NBA Team Selections
T1. Larry Bird – 10 All-NBA Team Selections (3 Points)
T1. Kevin Durant – 10 All-NBA Team Selections (3 Points)
3. Kawhi Leonard – 5 All-NBA Team Selections (1 Point)
A selection to an All-NBA team for any player is one of the highest honors they can receive individually. Each of these players has been selected to numerous All-NBA Teams in their career with Larry Bird and Kevin Durant tied at the top with 10 selections. For Bird, nine out of his 10 selections would be to the First Team while Durant has just six First Team selections under his belt. His Second Team selections would come in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022.
As for Kawhi Leonard, he was selected to just five All-NBA Teams so far in his career. Three of those were selections to the First Team in 2016, 2017, and 2021 while he earned Second Team selections in 2019 as well as 2020. Injuries and missed games have prevented him from earning a selection since the 2021 season but there is no doubt he may still have some left in the tank to warrant at least a few more in his career.
Most All-Defensive Team Selections
1. Kawhi Leonard – 7 All-Defensive Team Selections (3 Points)
2. Larry Bird – 3 All-Defensive Team Selections (2 Points)
3. Kevin Durant – 0 All-Defensive Team Selections (1 Point)
In case you haven’t noticed the pattern just yet, when it comes to the defensive accolades on this list, Kawhi Leonard blows his competition out of the water. Before he was considered an incredible two-way player, his defense was what gave him his claim to fame in the NBA. Over the years, he has accumulated seven All-Defensive Team selections including three First Team selections and four Second Team selections.
Larry Bird was named an All-Defensive Team selection just three times in his career but certainly has a case for that to be much higher. Of his three selections, none would be to the First Team while two of his selections came before he had ever been named MVP. In 1984, the year of his first NBA championship, Bird would earn his third and final selection to the All-Defensive Second Team.
As stated previously, Kevin Durant’s defensive ability is easily the most underrated part of his game. Despite this fact, Durant has never been honored with an All-Defensive Team selection despite averaging over 1.0 steals and over 1.0 blocks per game for his career. Durant will probably never crack an All-Defensive Team at this point in time, but he should be recognized for being far better than the defender he will be remembered for.
Most All-Star Selections
1. Kevin Durant – 13 All-Star Selections (3 Points)
2. Larry Bird – 12 All-Star Selections (2 Points)
3. Kawhi Leonard – 5 All-Star Selections (1 Point)
Larry Bird and Kevin Durant are the far superior players on this list when it comes to All-Star selections. They sit atop the list with 13 and 12 selections respectively while Kawhi Leonard surprisingly comes in with just five selections to his name. Not only does Durant edge out Bird in total selections, but he also edges him out in All-Star MVP awards with two compared to one for Bird.
Kawhi Leonard has also won an All-Star MVP award in 2020. Leonard would easily have more selections in his career if it weren’t for two injuries that kept him from competing for entire seasons in both 2018 and 2022. Even with those added to his resume, it does not come close to the All-Star resumes of Durant and Bird.
Total Win Shares
1. Kevin Durant – 161.9 Win Shares (3 Points)
2. Larry Bird – 145.8 Win Shares (2 Points)
3. Kawhi Leonard – 90.4 Win Shares (1 Point)
The accumulation of total win shares in a player’s career is a testament to two things. First, their impact on winning has to be extremely high or their win shares would not reflect it. Also, it is a testament to their longevity as players and the ability to consistently build up win shares. Kevin Durant comes in at number one in this category for his 161.9 total win shares in his career. Durant led the NBA once in this category during his 2014 MVP season when he recorded 19.2 win shares.
Larry Bird trails Kevin Durant by 16.1 total win shares in their careers despite playing three fewer seasons than him. In his career, Bird led the NBA twice in win shares during his 1985 and 1986 MVP seasons but never recorded a single season higher than Durant’s win shares in 2014. As for Leonard, his lack of longevity and consistency prevent him from being in the middle of this conversation. He never once led the NBA in win shares and has only recorded two seasons with at least 10.0 win shares or more.
PER
1. Kevin Durant – 25.3 PER (3 Points)
2. Larry Bird – 23.5 PER (2 Points)
3. Kawhi Leonard – 23.4 PER (1 Point)
The race for the winner of PER is one that was much tighter than the win shares category. Kevin Durant is one of the most efficient players in NBA history at the small forward position with a 25.3 career PER. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering he has not had a season below 25.0 PER since 2009, his second season in the NBA. Much like his total win shares, Durant led the NBA once in PER during his 2014 MVP season.
As for Larry Bird and Kawhi Leonard, their career PER is separated by just 0.1. Bird recorded just four seasons with a PER of over 25.0 and led the NBA during his 1985 and 1986 MVP seasons. For Leonard, he has six seasons with at least a 25.0 PER, which came consecutively from 2016 through 2021. Although he has never led the NBA in this category, he has ranked among the best of the best for the majority of his peak as an NBA player.
Who Has Had The Greatest NBA Career Out Of Kevin Durant, Larry Bird, And Kawhi Leonard?
1. Larry Bird – 25 Total Points (5 Categories Won)
2. Kevin Durant – 24 Total Points (4 Categories Won)
3. Kawhi Leonard – 17 Total Points (3 Categories Won)
Any avid NBA basketball fan will tell you they are not surprised by these results. I am sure most of you came into this comparison knowing, or at least of the opinion that Larry Bird ranks higher on an all-time scale than both Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. What I bet you didn’t account for is how close it really is between Bird and Durant while Leonard lags considerably behind the field.
This also should not be that much of a shock. Everything that Bird has accomplished in the NBA, Durant has accomplished, too just not on as large of a scale. Bird has more championships, MVP awards, and All-Defensive Team selections than Durant while Durant dominates the conversation when it comes to advanced stats and individual accolades such as All-NBA Teams and All-Star selections.
The one major takeaway I hope you take from this is that the discussion between Larry Bird and Kevin Durant in terms of greatness is one that is warranted and can easily go in either direction. The other takeaway that I hope you have is that Kawhi Leonard is not on either of their level in that same discussion. While he has been a tremendous player and worthy of recognition, Bird and Durant have elevated themselves to a level that Kawhi Leonard simply has not yet reached in his career.
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