Some all-time greats won the NBA's MVP award more than twice. But there are also others as great as them who never hoisted what is now known as The Michael Jordan trophy.
During the recent episode of ESPN's NBA Today, the show's crew talked about the greatest player never to win the NBA MVP award. For 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins , that player is Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard , who has won two championships and two Finals MVP awards.
"Kawhi Leonard Jordan," declared Big Perk. "Some of the greatest playoff runs in the history of the game then broke up happy homes."
Leonard was first known for his work on defense
Kawhi was drafted 15th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. However, with Indiana already having wing players Danny Granger and Paul George, they traded him to the San Antonio Spurs on Draft night.
Leonard was known more for his defense than his offense back then because of his large hands and 7'3" wingspan. But the Klaw worked hard on the other parts of his game, and soon, he developed into a two-way star.
"He made one of the greatest players of all time tap out, and I'm talking about LeBron James, especially when Kawhi was in San Antonio. What he did, that Finals run when he was in Toronto, helped them deliver their first championship in franchise history. Kawhi Leonard is the guy I'm rolling with," added Big Perk.
Related: Lawrence Taylor recalls Michael Jordan begging for foul calls during their UNC scrimmages: "I just hit you a little bit, come on, man"
He didn't just win two titles, he stopped two three-peats
Leonard helped the Spurs win the 2014 NBA championship and became the third-youngest player to win the NBA Finals MVP award. Kawhi also won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards for the next two seasons.
His tenure in San Antonio ended in 2018 when the Klaw was traded to the Toronto Raptors. In what is remembered as perhaps the greatest one-year run ever, Kawhi led the Raptors to an unlikely championship in 2019 and won a second Finals MVP award. Not only did Leonard win two titles and two Finals MVP awards, but he also stopped two teams from accomplishing a three-peat.
There's no question that Kawhi's resume is impressive. But there are at least five greater players who did not win MVP, too. Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, John Havlicek, Dwyane Wade, and Isiah Thomas also never won the NBA MVP award. And all of them may be greater than Leonard on many all-time lists.
Related: Gilbert Arenas questions Kawhi Leonard’s 2014 Finals MVP award: "It wasn't that he was dominating…he got busted"
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