Kawhi Leonard vs. Kevin Love Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Love 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / 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 14 years in the NBA, 4 less than Kevin Love, who played 18. Kawhi Leonard had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Kevin Love 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 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 14 12 2011-12 to 2025-26
Kevin Love 18 6 2008-09 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2011-122008-09
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
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:+17+1.3+3.2+1.8+2.2+4.0+0.1+0.9+0.2-0.8-1.1+0.8+2.2+.034+0.6+1.5+.271+2.2+2.7+.016
Kevin Love 81 25.3 11.1 3.4 5.7 9.1 1.0 0.4 0.6 1.5 2.5 3.9 8.5 .459 0.0 0.2 .105 3.3 4.1 .789
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
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2012-132009-10
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
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:+2+2.6+2.1+2.7+2.3+5.0+0.7+1.0+0.2-0.9-0.6+0.4+1.7+.044+0.5+1.2+.044+2.0+2.4+.010
Kevin Love 60 28.6 14.0 3.8 7.2 11.0 2.3 0.7 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.9 10.8 .450 0.6 1.8 .330 3.8 4.6 .815
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
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2013-142010-11
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Most Improved Player
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+7+6.7+7.4+3.3+5.6+9.0+0.5+1.1+0.4-0.9-0.1+1.5+4.3+.052+0.2+0.1+.038+4.3+4.9+.048
Kevin Love 73 35.8 20.2 4.5 10.7 15.2 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.1 2.0 6.6 14.1 .470 1.2 2.9 .417 5.8 6.8 .850
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
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2014-152011-12
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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:+9+7.2+9.5+2.8+3.3+6.1+0.5+1.4+0.3-0.8-0.8+2.4+6.5+.031+0.9+2.1+.023+3.7+4.5+.022
Kevin Love 55 39.0 26.0 4.1 9.2 13.3 2.0 0.9 0.5 2.3 2.8 8.6 19.3 .448 1.9 5.1 .372 6.9 8.4 .824
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
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2015-162012-13
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
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:+54+1.2+2.9+2.3+4.9+7.2+0.3+1.1+0.5-0.7-0.1+1.9+1.5+.154+0.7+1.1+.226+1.5+3.3+.170
Kevin Love 18 34.3 18.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.3 0.7 0.5 2.2 1.9 5.8 16.6 .352 1.1 5.1 .217 5.6 7.9 .704
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
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2016-172013-14
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
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:+3+2.9+0.6+1.8+4.9+6.7+0.9+1.0+0.2-0.4-0.2+0.2+0.8+.028+0.5+1.4+.004+0.5+1.0+.059
Kevin Love 77 36.3 26.1 2.9 9.6 12.5 4.4 0.8 0.5 2.5 1.8 8.4 18.5 .457 2.5 6.6 .376 6.8 8.2 .821
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
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2017-182014-15
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+66+10.5+0.2+1.2+3.9+5.0+0.1+1.3+0.5-0.2-0.9+0.3+0.4+.034+0.7+1.3+.053+0.1+.012
Kevin Love 75 33.8 16.4 1.9 7.9 9.7 2.2 0.7 0.5 1.6 1.9 5.5 12.7 .434 1.9 5.2 .367 3.4 4.3 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kawhi Leonard DNP------ --- ----------
Kevin Love 4 26.8 14.3 1.5 5.5 7.0 2.5 0.3 0.5 1.5 3.0 4.3 10.3 .415 2.3 5.3 .429 3.5 4.8 .737

Season 8

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2018-192015-16
Team Toronto RaptorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+17+2.5+10.6+0.6+2.0+2.6+0.9+1.0+0.1-0.2-0.6+4.0+6.1+.077+0.2+0.7+.011+2.7+3.0+.032
Kevin Love 77 31.5 16.0 1.9 8.0 9.9 2.4 0.8 0.5 1.8 2.1 5.3 12.7 .419 2.1 5.7 .360 3.4 4.1 .822
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
difference:+4+8.4+15.8+0.6+0.3+0.3+1.8+1.2+0.3-1.7-0.6+5.5+8.7+.105+0.4+.035+4.8+5.2+.044
Kevin Love 20 30.7 14.7 1.7 7.1 8.8 2.1 0.5 0.4 1.4 1.7 4.6 12.0 .385 2.3 5.6 .414 3.2 3.8 .840

Season 9

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2019-202016-17
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+3+1.0+8.1+1.6+2.5+4.0+3.0+0.9+0.2-0.6-0.1+3.1+5.4+.043+0.2+0.8+.005+1.9+2.2+.015
Kevin Love 60 31.4 19.0 2.5 8.6 11.1 1.9 0.9 0.4 2.0 2.1 6.2 14.5 .427 2.4 6.5 .373 4.3 4.9 .871
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
difference:+5+7.2+11.4+0.2+1.1+1.3+3.8+1.1+0.1-0.8-0.4+4.8+8.5+.053+1.0+0.6+.121+2.7+3.0+.022
Kevin Love 18 32.1 16.8 2.0 8.6 10.6 1.7 1.2 0.9 1.7 2.6 5.3 12.1 .436 2.8 6.2 .450 3.5 4.2 .840

Season 10

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2020-212017-18
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+7+6.1+7.2+0.6+2.1+2.8+3.5+0.9-0.5-0.4+3.2+5.1+.054+0.4+0.7+.017+1.0+1.2+.005
Kevin Love 59 28.0 17.6 1.7 7.5 9.3 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.5 2.0 5.7 12.4 .458 2.3 5.6 .415 4.0 4.5 .880
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:+10+7.9+15.5+0.3+2.2+2.5+2.8+1.4+0.4-0.2-0.2+5.9+6.2+.181+0.5+0.5+.053+3.2+3.8+.042
Kevin Love 21 31.4 14.9 2.3 7.9 10.2 1.6 0.7 0.4 2.0 2.8 5.2 13.2 .392 1.7 5.0 .340 2.8 3.0 .922

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

Season 11

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2022-232018-19
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
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:+30+6.4+6.8+0.4+4.0+4.4+1.7+1.1+0.3-0.2-0.9+3.6+3.9+.127+0.4+1.9+.055+0.2+.033
Kevin Love 22 27.2 17.0 1.5 9.4 10.9 2.2 0.3 0.2 1.9 2.5 5.0 12.9 .385 2.4 6.7 .361 4.7 5.2 .904
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
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2023-242019-20
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+12+2.5+6.1+0.2+3.9+3.7+0.4+1.0+0.6-0.7-0.2+3.2+4.1+.075+0.5+2.1+.043+0.4+0.3+.031
Kevin Love 56 31.8 17.6 1.0 8.8 9.8 3.2 0.6 0.3 2.5 1.6 5.8 13.0 .450 2.6 7.0 .374 3.3 3.9 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2024-252020-21
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kawhi Leonard 37 31.9 21.5 0.9 5.0 5.9 3.1 1.6 0.5 1.9 1.5 8.4 16.8 .498 2.1 5.1 .411 2.6 3.3 .810
difference:+12+7.0+9.3+0.2+1.8+1.5+0.6+1.0+0.4-0.4-0.5+4.3+6.7+.089+0.2+1.1+.046+0.9+1.3+.014
Kevin Love 25 24.9 12.2 0.7 6.8 7.4 2.5 0.6 0.1 1.5 1.0 4.1 10.1 .409 2.3 6.2 .365 1.7 2.0 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kawhi Leonard 7 37.9 25.0 1.6 6.0 7.6 4.7 1.1 0.7 2.1 1.7 9.4 17.6 .537 2.1 5.3 .405 4.0 5.1 .778
Kevin Love DNP------ --- ----------

Season 14

Kawhi Leonard Kevin Love
Season 2025-262021-22
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kawhi Leonard 17 32.6 24.8 0.8 4.9 5.8 3.2 1.9 0.4 1.9 1.5 9.1 18.5 .489 2.1 6.0 .353 4.6 4.7 .975
difference:+57+10.1+11.2+0.4+1.2+1.4+1.0+1.5+0.2-0.6-0.1+4.7+8.2+.059+0.4+0.4+.039+2.4+2.0+.137
Kevin Love 74 22.5 13.6 1.2 6.1 7.2 2.2 0.4 0.2 1.3 1.4 4.4 10.3 .430 2.5 6.4 .392 2.2 2.7 .838
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Kawhi Leonard nor Kevin Love played in the postseason in their season 14

Additional Years

* Kevin Love played 4 seasons more than Kawhi Leonard in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 18, from 2023 to 2026—Kevin Love played in two Playoffs.