Kawhi Leonard is one of the most talented, albeit controversial, players of his era. Leonard has won two NBA championships, one with the San Antonio Spurs and one with the Toronto Raptors. The second one with the Raptors in 2019 led many people to believe Leonard was the best player in the world. Apparently, Leonard himself felt it pushed him into territory reserved for only the best in NBA history.
Fred VanVleet Says Kawhi Leonard Claimed He Was Better Than Kobe Bryant
Current Rockets point guard and a former Leonard teammate in Toronto, Fred VanVleet, talked to Kevin Durant on his “Unguarded” podcast about how he overheard Leonard saying he had surpassed Kobe Bryant after Leonard helped the Raptors dethrone Durant’s Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals.
“The sentiment of the conversation was that when we won the championship was… ‘I’m better than Kob, right?’ I had the same reaction (VanVleet referring to his co-podcasters’ surprise). Because Kob is my man… that’s it for me. That’s as good as it gets for me.
“When he said it, I said, ‘If I’m him, how do I feel?” VanVleet went on to explain how he understood Leonard’s perspective, especially coming off the biggest win of his career.
Leonard’s is a bold claim to make, and somewhat shocking considering how reserved Leonard usually is. The Clippers forward keeps to himself and rarely speaks to anyone. Still, VanVleet’s behind-the-scenes knowledge helps demonstrate the ways even the most unexpected players brag about their careers behind closed doors.
How Close is Leonard to Bryant in All-time Discussions?
Leonard’s run during the 2019 postseason was awe-inspiring, no doubt about it. He averaged 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in the Raptors’ six-game NBA Finals triumph over the Warriors. In a series featuring a multitude of stars, including Durant and the legendary Stephen Curry, Leonard often demonstrated his dominance in a way that made some feel he was the best player on the court.
Leonard won a second title and a second NBA Finals MVPÂ and had every right to put himself up against anyone else in basketball. Durant agreed with this on the podcast, making a case that every star of Leonard’s caliber is going to feel they are the best player in the world, no matter who is on the other side of the court.
From an objective point of view, though, Leonard is not really close to Kobe Bryant in all-time discussions. The late Lakers’ legend was a five-time champion, an 11-time All-NBA First Team selection, and his 33,643 career points rank fourth in league history.
Leonard’s Clippers are one of the worst teams in the league this season, as they sit at 6-20 and in 14th place in the Western Conference. If he can have one last push for greatness with this team in his twilight years, perhaps Leonard can edge closer to dethroning Bryant.
