Kawhi Leonard vs. Brandon Rush Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Brandon Rush and Kawhi Leonard, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Kawhi Leonard played 12 years in the NBA, 3 more than Brandon Rush, who played 9. Kawhi Leonard had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Brandon Rush had his rookie season in 2008-09. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Kawhi Leonard 12 11 2011-12 to 2023-24
Brandon Rush 9 3 2008-09 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2011-122008-09
Team San Antonio SpursIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 64 24.0 7.9 1.6 3.5 5.1 1.1 1.3 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.1 6.3 .493 0.6 1.7 .376 1.1 1.4 .773
Brandon Rush 75 24.0 8.1 0.5 2.7 3.1 0.9 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.7 3.2 7.7 .423 1.0 2.8 .373 0.6 0.9 .697
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 14 27.1 8.6 1.3 4.6 5.9 0.6 1.2 0.4 0.9 1.6 3.2 6.4 .500 1.3 2.9 .450 0.9 1.1 .813
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2012-132009-10
Team San Antonio SpursIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 58 31.2 11.9 1.1 4.9 6.0 1.6 1.7 0.6 1.1 1.7 4.5 9.1 .494 1.1 3.0 .374 1.8 2.2 .825
Brandon Rush 82 30.4 9.4 0.5 3.7 4.2 1.4 0.7 0.8 1.1 1.9 3.6 8.6 .423 1.5 3.7 .411 0.7 1.1 .629
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 21 36.9 13.5 2.4 6.7 9.0 1.0 1.8 0.5 1.1 1.9 5.5 10.0 .545 1.1 2.8 .390 1.5 2.3 .633
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2013-142010-11
Team San Antonio SpursIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 66 29.1 12.8 1.2 5.1 6.2 2.0 1.7 0.8 1.2 1.9 5.1 9.8 .522 1.0 2.8 .379 1.5 1.9 .802
Brandon Rush 67 26.2 9.1 0.5 2.7 3.2 0.9 0.6 0.5 1.0 1.6 3.2 7.7 .421 1.4 3.3 .417 1.2 1.6 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 23 32.0 14.3 1.3 5.4 6.7 1.7 1.7 0.6 1.3 2.9 5.3 10.4 .510 1.3 3.2 .419 2.3 3.1 .736
Brandon Rush 5 11.0 3.2 0.0 1.4 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.0 1.2 2.6 .462 0.6 0.8 .750 0.2 0.4 .500

Season 4

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2014-152011-12
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 64 31.8 16.5 1.3 5.9 7.2 2.5 2.3 0.8 1.5 2.0 6.2 12.8 .479 1.0 3.0 .349 3.2 3.9 .802
Brandon Rush 65 26.4 9.8 0.5 3.4 3.9 1.4 0.5 0.9 1.0 1.0 3.6 7.2 .501 1.5 3.4 .452 1.0 1.3 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 7 35.7 20.3 1.9 5.6 7.4 2.6 1.1 0.6 2.1 2.6 7.4 15.6 .477 1.6 3.7 .423 3.9 5.0 .771
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2015-162012-13
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 72 33.1 21.2 1.3 5.5 6.8 2.6 1.8 1.0 1.5 1.8 7.7 15.1 .506 1.8 4.0 .443 4.1 4.6 .874
Brandon Rush 2 12.5 7.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 2.5 3.0 4.5 .667 0.0 1.0 .000 1.0 1.5 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 10 33.9 22.5 1.4 4.9 6.3 2.8 2.6 1.4 1.6 2.1 8.3 16.6 .500 1.7 3.9 .436 4.2 5.1 .824
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2016-172013-14
Team San Antonio SpursUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 74 33.4 25.5 1.1 4.7 5.8 3.5 1.8 0.7 2.1 1.6 8.6 17.7 .485 2.0 5.2 .380 6.3 7.2 .880
Brandon Rush 38 11.0 2.1 0.1 1.0 1.2 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.8 0.8 2.4 .333 0.4 1.2 .340 0.1 0.1 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 12 35.8 27.7 1.6 6.2 7.8 4.6 1.7 0.5 2.2 1.8 8.8 16.8 .525 2.1 4.6 .455 7.9 8.5 .931
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2017-182014-15
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 9 23.3 16.2 0.7 4.0 4.7 2.3 2.0 1.0 1.8 1.0 5.8 12.3 .468 1.2 3.9 .314 3.4 4.2 .816
Brandon Rush 33 8.2 0.9 0.1 1.1 1.2 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.8 0.3 1.6 .204 0.1 0.8 .111 0.2 0.3 .455
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Brandon Rush 3 2.3 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.3 2.0 .167 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 -

Season 8

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2018-192015-16
Team Toronto RaptorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 60 34.0 26.6 1.3 6.0 7.3 3.3 1.8 0.4 2.0 1.5 9.3 18.8 .496 1.9 5.0 .371 6.1 7.1 .854
Brandon Rush 72 14.7 4.2 0.3 2.2 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.5 3.6 .427 0.9 2.2 .414 0.3 0.4 .643
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 24 39.1 30.5 2.3 6.8 9.1 3.9 1.7 0.7 3.1 2.3 10.1 20.7 .490 2.3 6.0 .379 8.0 9.0 .884
Brandon Rush 14 7.9 1.6 0.0 1.6 1.6 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.6 1.4 .450 0.3 0.9 .333 0.1 0.1 .500

Season 9

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2019-202016-17
Team Los Angeles ClippersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 57 32.4 27.1 0.9 6.1 7.1 4.9 1.8 0.6 2.6 2.0 9.3 19.9 .470 2.2 5.7 .378 6.2 7.1 .886
Brandon Rush 47 21.9 4.2 0.3 1.8 2.1 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.9 1.5 4.0 .374 0.9 2.4 .386 0.3 0.4 .722
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 13 39.3 28.2 1.8 7.5 9.3 5.5 2.3 0.8 2.5 2.2 10.1 20.6 .489 1.8 5.6 .329 6.2 7.2 .862
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2020-21-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 52 34.1 24.8 1.1 5.4 6.5 5.2 1.6 0.4 2.0 1.6 8.9 17.5 .512 1.9 4.9 .398 5.0 5.7 .885
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 11 39.3 30.4 2.0 5.7 7.7 4.4 2.1 0.8 2.2 2.6 11.1 19.4 .573 2.2 5.5 .393 6.0 6.8 .880
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------

Note: Kawhi Leonard didn't play in 2021-22.

Season 11

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2022-23-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 52 33.6 23.8 1.1 5.4 6.5 3.9 1.4 0.5 1.7 1.6 8.6 16.8 .512 2.0 4.8 .416 4.7 5.4 .871
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 2 40.0 34.5 1.5 5.0 6.5 6.0 2.0 0.5 3.0 2.5 12.0 22.0 .545 3.0 5.0 .600 7.5 8.5 .882
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Kawhi Leonard Brandon Rush
Season 2023-24-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 68 34.3 23.7 1.2 4.9 6.1 3.6 1.6 0.9 1.8 1.4 9.0 17.1 .525 2.1 4.9 .417 3.7 4.2 .885
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard 2 29.5 12.0 1.5 6.5 8.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 2.0 1.5 5.5 12.0 .458 0.0 2.5 .000 1.0 1.5 .667
Brandon Rush ------- --- ----------