Kawhi Leonard vs. Micheal Ray Richardson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Micheal Ray Richardson 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

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, 4 more than Micheal Ray Richardson, who played 8. Kawhi Leonard had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Micheal Ray Richardson had his rookie season in 1978-79. 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
Micheal Ray Richardson 8 4 1978-79 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2011-121978-79
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
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
Micheal Ray Richardson 72 16.9 6.5 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.0 1.4 0.3 2.0 2.6 2.8 6.7 .414 - - - 1.0 1.8 .539
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2012-131979-80
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Micheal Ray Richardson 82 37.3 15.3 1.8 4.7 6.6 10.1 3.2 0.4 4.4 3.2 6.1 13.0 .472 0.3 1.3 .245 2.7 4.1 .660
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2013-141980-81
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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
Micheal Ray Richardson 79 40.2 16.4 2.2 4.7 6.9 7.9 2.9 0.4 3.8 3.3 6.6 14.1 .469 0.3 1.3 .225 2.8 4.3 .663
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
Micheal Ray Richardson 2 43.0 11.5 3.0 6.5 9.5 5.5 3.5 0.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 16.5 .242 0.0 2.0 .000 3.5 6.0 .583

Season 4
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2014-151981-82
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards 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 >>
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
Micheal Ray Richardson 82 37.1 17.9 2.2 4.7 6.9 7.0 2.6 0.5 3.5 3.9 7.5 16.4 .461 0.2 1.2 .188 2.6 3.7 .700
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2015-161982-83
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisNets 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 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
Micheal Ray Richardson 64 32.4 12.6 1.8 2.8 4.6 6.8 2.8 0.4 3.8 3.8 5.4 12.7 .425 0.1 0.8 .157 1.7 2.5 .650
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
Micheal Ray Richardson 2 29.0 9.5 1.0 3.0 4.0 2.5 2.5 0.0 2.0 1.5 4.0 10.5 .381 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 2.5 .600

Season 6
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2016-171983-84
Team San Antonio SpursNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsNets Lost East Conf Semis
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
Micheal Ray Richardson 48 26.8 12.0 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.5 2.1 0.4 2.5 3.3 5.1 11.0 .460 0.3 1.2 .241 1.6 2.3 .704
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
Micheal Ray Richardson 11 40.3 16.8 1.8 3.1 4.9 7.2 3.1 0.4 2.7 3.6 6.3 15.4 .408 0.5 2.0 .273 3.7 5.1 .732

Season 7
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2017-181984-85
Team San Antonio SpursNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 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
Micheal Ray Richardson 82 38.1 20.1 1.9 3.7 5.6 8.2 3.0 0.3 3.0 3.4 8.4 17.9 .469 0.4 1.4 .252 2.9 3.8 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Micheal Ray Richardson 3 41.7 18.3 1.3 4.7 6.0 11.3 1.3 0.0 2.7 4.0 7.7 19.0 .404 0.0 0.7 .000 3.0 4.7 .643

Season 8
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2018-191985-86
Team Toronto RaptorsNew Jersey Nets
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 >>
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
Micheal Ray Richardson 47 34.1 15.7 1.6 3.7 5.3 7.2 2.7 0.2 3.2 3.5 6.3 14.1 .448 0.1 0.6 .148 3.0 3.8 .788
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
Season 2019-20-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
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 Semis-
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------

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

Season 11
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Kawhi Leonard Micheal Ray Richardson
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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