Kawhi Leonard vs. Jusuf Nurkic Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jusuf Nurkic 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 13 years in the NBA, 2 more than Jusuf Nurkic, who played 11. Kawhi Leonard had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Jusuf Nurkic had his rookie season in 2014-15. 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 achievements, 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 13 12 2011-12 to 2024-25
Jusuf Nurkic 11 5 2014-15 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2011-122014-15
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2+6.2+1.0+0.4+0.6+1.1+0.3+0.5+0.7-0.7-1.9+0.3+0.1+.047+0.6+1.7+0.3+0.7+.137
Jusuf Nurkic 62 17.8 6.9 2.0 4.1 6.2 0.8 0.8 1.1 1.4 3.3 2.8 6.2 .446 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .636
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jusuf Nurkic DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2012-132015-16
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+26+14.1+3.7+0.9+1.5+0.5+0.3+0.9+0.8-0.6-1.1+1.3+1.5+.077+1.1+2.9+.374+0.1+0.9+.209
Jusuf Nurkic 32 17.1 8.2 2.0 3.4 5.5 1.3 0.8 1.4 1.7 2.8 3.2 7.6 .417 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 3.1 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jusuf Nurkic DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2013-142016-17
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+7.7+2.6+1.2+0.3+1.0+0.1+0.9+0.3-1.0-0.6+0.9+1.6+.015+1.0+2.8+0.3+1.3+.231
Jusuf Nurkic 65 21.4 10.2 2.4 4.8 7.2 1.9 0.8 1.1 2.2 2.5 4.2 8.2 .507 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.2 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+22+15.0+12.3+1.3+5.6+4.3+2.3+1.7+0.4-1.7-1.9+4.3+7.4+.177+1.3+2.2+.419+2.3+3.1
Jusuf Nurkic 1 17.0 2.0 0.0 11.0 11.0 4.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2014-152017-18
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+15+5.4+2.2+1.1+0.7+1.8+0.7+1.5+0.6-0.8-1.1+0.1+0.8+.026+1.0+2.9+.349+1.0+0.4+.172
Jusuf Nurkic 79 26.4 14.3 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.8 0.8 1.4 2.3 3.1 6.1 12.0 .505 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.5 .630
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+3+12.2+8.5+1.1+0.6+0.6+1.6+0.4+0.7-1.3-0.9+2.6+5.8+.010+1.6+3.7+1.6+2.2+.047
Jusuf Nurkic 4 23.5 11.8 3.0 5.0 8.0 1.0 1.5 1.3 0.8 3.5 4.8 9.8 .487 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.8 .818

Season 5

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2015-162018-19
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
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 >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+5.7+5.6+2.1+1.5+3.6+0.6+0.8+0.4-0.8-1.7+1.9+3.6+.002+1.8+3.6+.340+0.2+0.5+.101
Jusuf Nurkic 72 27.4 15.6 3.4 7.0 10.4 3.2 1.0 1.4 2.3 3.5 5.8 11.5 .508 0.0 0.4 .103 3.9 5.1 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jusuf Nurkic DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2016-172019-20
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+66+1.8+7.9+1.8+2.7+4.5+0.5+0.4+1.3-0.3-3.3+1.8+4.1+.010+1.7+3.9+.180+2.4+2.8+.006
Jusuf Nurkic 8 31.6 17.6 2.9 7.4 10.3 4.0 1.4 2.0 2.4 4.9 6.8 13.6 .495 0.3 1.3 .200 3.9 4.4 .886
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+7+3.6+13.5+1.2+1.4+2.6+1.0+0.3+0.3-0.4-2.4+3.8+5.4+.086+1.5+2.4+.182+4.3+3.9+.148
Jusuf Nurkic 5 32.2 14.2 2.8 7.6 10.4 3.6 1.4 0.2 2.6 4.2 5.0 11.4 .439 0.6 2.2 .273 3.6 4.6 .783

Season 7

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2017-182020-21
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+28+0.5+4.7+1.6+2.6+4.3+1.1+1.0+0.1-0.2-1.8+1.2+3.3+.046+0.9+3.1+.086+1.5+1.1+.197
Jusuf Nurkic 37 23.8 11.5 2.3 6.6 9.0 3.4 1.0 1.1 2.0 2.8 4.6 9.0 .514 0.3 0.8 .400 1.9 3.1 .619
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kawhi Leonard DNP------ --- ----------
Jusuf Nurkic 6 28.8 13.2 3.0 7.3 10.3 2.7 0.5 1.2 2.3 5.0 5.0 9.2 .545 0.2 0.8 .200 3.0 4.2 .720

Season 8

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2018-192021-22
Team Toronto RaptorsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+4+5.8+11.6+1.7+2.1+3.8+0.5+0.7+0.2-0.6-1.9+3.6+8.1+.039+1.6+4.0+.103+2.8+2.3+.164
Jusuf Nurkic 56 28.2 15.0 3.0 8.1 11.1 2.8 1.1 0.6 2.6 3.4 5.7 10.7 .535 0.3 1.0 .268 3.3 4.8 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jusuf Nurkic DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2019-202022-23
Team Los Angeles ClippersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+5+5.6+13.8+1.3+0.8+2.0+2.0+1.0+0.2-0.3-1.6+4.3+10.2+.049+1.4+3.4+.017+3.8+3.4+.225
Jusuf Nurkic 52 26.8 13.3 2.2 6.9 9.1 2.9 0.8 0.8 2.3 3.6 5.0 9.7 .519 0.8 2.3 .361 2.4 3.7 .661
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jusuf Nurkic DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2020-212023-24
Team Los Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf FinalsSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+24+6.8+13.9+1.8+2.7+4.5+1.2+0.5+0.7-0.3-1.7+4.7+9.2+.002+1.6+3.7+.154+2.8+2.3+.245
Jusuf Nurkic 76 27.3 10.9 2.9 8.1 11.0 4.0 1.1 1.1 2.3 3.3 4.2 8.3 .510 0.3 1.2 .244 2.2 3.4 .640
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+7+13.3+22.6+1.3+0.7+0.6+1.6+0.6+0.7-0.7-1.2+7.8+12.9+.073+2.2+5.0+.393+4.7+4.0+.425
Jusuf Nurkic 4 26.0 7.8 3.3 5.0 8.3 2.8 1.5 1.5 1.5 3.8 3.3 6.5 .500 0.0 0.5 .000 1.3 2.8 .455

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

Season 11

Kawhi Leonard Jusuf Nurkic
Season 2022-232024-25
Team Los Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+12.8+14.9+0.6+0.7+1.3+1.6+0.6+0.2-0.2-0.9+5.3+9.9+.035+1.4+2.7+.111+3.0+2.9+.207
Jusuf Nurkic 51 20.8 8.9 1.7 6.1 7.8 2.3 0.8 0.7 1.9 2.5 3.3 6.9 .477 0.6 2.1 .305 1.7 2.5 .664
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jusuf Nurkic DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Kawhi Leonard played 2 seasons more than Jusuf Nurkic in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 13, from 2024 to 2025—Kawhi Leonard played in two Playoffs.

In those 2 extra years over Jusuf Nurkic, Kawhi Leonard got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game