Kawhi Leonard vs. Tristan Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tristan Thompson 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 / 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 and Tristan Thompson both played 14 years in the NBA. Kawhi Leonard had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Tristan Thompson had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Tristan Thompson 14 9 2011-12 to 2024-25

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 Tristan Thompson
Season 2011-122011-12
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
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:+4+0.3+0.3+1.5+0.1+1.4+0.6+0.8+0.6-0.7-0.8+0.1+1.1+.054+0.6+1.7+0.7+1.8+.221
Tristan Thompson 60 23.7 8.2 3.1 3.4 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.2 3.2 7.4 .439 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.2 .552
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2012-132012-13
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
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:+24+0.1+0.2+2.6+0.8+3.4+0.3+1.0+0.3-0.4-1.2+0.3+0.6+.006+1.1+3.0+0.4+1.3+.217
Tristan Thompson 82 31.3 11.7 3.7 5.7 9.4 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 2.9 4.8 9.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .608
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2013-142013-14
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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:+16+2.5+1.1+2.1+0.8+3.0+1.1+1.2+0.4-0.1-0.4+0.7+0.5+.045+1.0+2.8+1.4+2.2+.109
Tristan Thompson 82 31.6 11.7 3.3 5.9 9.2 0.9 0.5 0.4 1.3 2.3 4.4 9.3 .477 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.1 .693
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2014-152014-15
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+18+5.0+8.0+2.0+1.2+0.8+2.0+1.9+0.1-0.5-0.3+2.9+6.8+.068+1.0+3.0+1.3+0.9+.161
Tristan Thompson 82 26.8 8.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.3 6.0 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .641
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:+13+0.7+10.7+2.5+0.8+3.4+2.1+0.8+0.6-1.3-0.1+3.8+9.1+.081+1.6+3.7+1.5+0.9+.186
Tristan Thompson 20 36.4 9.6 4.4 6.4 10.8 0.5 0.3 1.2 0.8 2.5 3.6 6.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.1 .585

Season 5

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2015-162015-16
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
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 SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+10+5.4+13.4+2.0+0.2+2.2+1.8+1.3+0.4-0.8-0.7+4.7+10.0+.082+1.8+4.0+2.3+1.6+.258
Tristan Thompson 82 27.7 7.8 3.3 5.7 9.0 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.7 2.5 3.0 5.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.0 .616
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
difference:+11+4.3+15.8+2.7+2.7+2.1+2.2+0.5-0.8-0.5+6.0+12.2+.027+1.7+3.9+2.2+1.6+.249
Tristan Thompson 21 29.6 6.7 4.1 4.9 9.0 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.3 4.4 .527 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .575

Season 6

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2016-172016-17
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+4+3.5+17.4+2.6+0.8+3.4+2.5+1.3+0.4-1.3-0.7+5.2+12.1+.115+2.0+5.2+4.9+4.5+.382
Tristan Thompson 78 29.9 8.1 3.7 5.5 9.2 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 3.4 5.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.7 .498
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:+6+4.6+19.5+2.2+1.7+0.5+3.2+1.2+0.2-1.0-0.2+5.8+11.7+.062+2.1+4.6+5.7+5.2+.264
Tristan Thompson 18 31.2 8.2 3.8 4.5 8.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 3.0 5.1 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .667

Season 7

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2017-182017-18
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:+44+3.1+10.4+1.7+0.3+1.9+1.7+1.7+0.7-1.1-0.9+3.3+7.9+.094+1.2+3.9+2.6+2.7+.272
Tristan Thompson 53 20.2 5.8 2.4 4.3 6.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 2.5 4.4 .562 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .544
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kawhi Leonard DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 19 21.9 6.2 2.3 3.6 5.9 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.4 2.6 4.4 .590 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .741

Season 8

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2018-192018-19
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 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:+17+6.1+15.7+2.7+0.2+2.9+1.3+1.1-0.6-0.6+4.6+10.0+.033+1.9+5.0+4.5+4.6+.212
Tristan Thompson 43 27.9 10.9 4.0 6.2 10.2 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.4 2.1 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.5 .642
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2019-202019-20
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
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:+2.2+15.1+3.1+0.1+3.0+2.8+1.2+0.3-0.8-0.2+4.2+10.0+.042+2.0+5.3+.013+4.5+4.3+.271
Tristan Thompson 57 30.2 12.0 4.0 6.2 10.1 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 2.2 5.1 9.9 .512 0.2 0.4 .391 1.7 2.8 .615
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2020-212020-21
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East 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:+2+10.3+17.2+2.0+0.4+1.6+4.0+1.2+0.2-0.9-0.6+5.8+11.5+.006+1.9+4.8+.398+3.7+3.5+.293
Tristan Thompson 54 23.8 7.6 3.1 5.0 8.1 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.1 6.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.2 .592
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:+6+12.9+20.0+3.8+1.7+2.1+3.4+1.3+0.4-1.2-0.2+7.1+12.6+.015+2.2+5.5+3.6+3.4+.174
Tristan Thompson 5 26.4 10.4 5.8 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.0 2.4 4.0 6.8 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706

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

Season 11

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2022-232021-22
Team Los Angeles ClippersSacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+5+17.9+17.8+1.0+2.5+1.4+3.3+1.0+0.1-0.9-0.1+6.1+12.1+.016+2.0+4.7+.083+3.6+3.4+.345
Tristan Thompson 57 15.7 6.0 2.1 2.9 5.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 4.7 .528 0.0 0.1 .333 1.1 2.0 .526
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
difference:+3+32.4+33.7+1.1+3.8+4.9+5.6+1.8+0.5-2.0-1.7+11.6+21.0+.145+3.0+5.0+7.5+8.5
Tristan Thompson 5 7.6 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2023-242022-23
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf Finals
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------
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
difference:+4+24.2+10.2+0.8+5.5+6.3+1.7+2.0+0.5-1.8-1.3+4.7+10.2+.003+2.5+0.8+0.7+.467
Tristan Thompson 6 5.3 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.8 .200

Season 13

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2024-252023-24
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
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+20.7+18.2+0.6+2.9+2.3+2.1+1.4+0.2-1.3-0.3+6.9+14.4+.110+2.1+5.1+2.3+2.2+.522
Tristan Thompson 49 11.2 3.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 1.5 2.4 .608 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.1 .288
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
difference:+3+29.2+23.5+0.6+5.0+5.6+3.7+1.0+0.2-1.9-0.8+8.7+16.0+.099+2.1+5.3+3.9+4.9+.278
Tristan Thompson 10 8.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.6 .438 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .500

Season 14

Kawhi Leonard Tristan Thompson
Season 2025-262024-25
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
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 4 32.0 21.3 0.8 5.5 6.3 3.0 1.3 0.5 1.8 1.0 8.0 17.0 .471 1.8 4.8 .368 3.5 3.8 .933
difference:+36+23.8+19.6+2.9+2.9+2.4+1.2+0.2-1.4-0.1+7.2+15.2+.034+1.8+4.7+.368+3.3+3.0+.700
Tristan Thompson 40 8.2 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.4 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.9 0.8 1.8 .437 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.8 .233
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kawhi Leonard DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 3 9.7 2.3 0.7 4.3 5.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .333