Deron Williams has sparked a fresh debate by saying he would pick Kawhi Leonard over LeBron James in clutch moments. The former All-Star guard said he trusts Leonard more to create his own shot when the game is on the line. His comments come as Leonard leads a strong season for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Deron Williams Picks Kawhi Leonard Over LeBron James for Last Shots
Dunk Central shared Williams’ take from “To The Baha Show”: “Deron Williams says Kawhi Leonard is a better one-on-one scorer than LeBron James and would want Kawhi taking the last shot at the end of games.”
“I think Kawhi’s better at creating his own shot. Not saying LeBron can’t create his own shot,” Williams said.
Williams’ stance adds to his history of favoring shot creators over James in big moments. In a previous episode of the same podcast, he picked Kobe Bryant over LeBron James for a last-second shot. Likewise, he also gave Bryant the edge as a scorer, saying,
“If I’ve got to give the ball to someone to get a bucket, I’m going Kobe.”
This time, his choice of Leonard comes as the Clippers are enjoying a solid season. Despite moving on from James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline, Los Angeles has stayed competitive. The team holds a 39-36 record and sits eighth in the Western Conference.
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A big reason for that success is Leonard. At 34, he is having one of the best seasons of his career. He is averaging a career-high 28.2 points along with 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals, while shooting 50.3% from the field in 59 games.
Williams’ argument centers on shot creation in tight moments. Leonard’s calm style and ability to score one-on-one have defined many of his biggest plays. One of the most famous came in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, when he hit a fadeaway buzzer-beater over Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons to win the series.
King James, however, brings a different case entirely. He is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 43,311 career points. He has done it with strong efficiency, shooting 50.7% from the field, 34.8% from three, and 73.7% from the free-throw line.
He also has a long list of clutch moments, including a key game-winner in Game 4 of the 2015 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Chicago Bulls.
Williams knows James’ game well. Over his career, he played 20 games alongside and 25 against him and built a reputation as a reliable guard, earning three All-Star selections and two All-NBA honors.
Still, his latest take is clear. When it comes to the final shot, Williams believes Leonard’s one-on-one scoring gives him the edge over James.
