Kevin Johnson vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Johnson, 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

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.

Kevin Johnson played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Kawhi Leonard, who played 14. Kevin Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, while Kawhi Leonard 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
Kevin Johnson 12 11 1987-88 to 1999-00
Kawhi Leonard 14 12 2011-12 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1987-882011-12
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 80 24.0 9.2 0.5 1.9 2.4 5.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 1.9 3.4 7.5 .461 0.1 0.3 .208 2.2 2.6 .839
difference:+16+1.3+1.1+1.6+2.7+4.4+0.1-1.1-0.5+0.3+1.2+.032+0.5+1.4+.168+1.1+1.2+.066
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 2

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1988-892012-13
Team Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsSpurs Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 81 39.2 20.4 0.6 3.6 4.2 12.2 1.7 0.3 4.0 2.8 7.0 13.9 .505 0.0 0.3 .091 6.3 7.1 .882
difference:+23+8.0+8.5+0.5+1.3+1.8+10.6+0.3-2.9-1.1+2.5+4.8+.011+1.1+2.7+.283+4.5+4.9+.057
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 12 41.2 23.8 1.0 3.3 4.3 12.3 1.6 0.4 4.6 2.3 7.5 15.2 .495 0.3 0.8 .300 8.5 9.2 .927
difference:+9+4.3+10.3+1.4+3.4+4.7+11.3+0.2+0.1-3.5-0.4+2.0+5.2+.050+0.8+2.0+.090+7.0+6.9+.294
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

Season 3

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1989-902013-14
Team Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 74 37.6 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.6 11.4 1.3 0.2 3.6 1.9 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.6 .195 6.8 8.1 .838
difference:+8+8.5+9.7+0.6+2.0+2.6+9.4+0.4+0.6-2.4+2.7+5.9+.023+0.9+2.2+.184+5.3+6.2+.036
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 16 36.4 21.3 0.6 2.8 3.3 10.6 1.6 0.0 3.9 1.8 7.7 16.1 .479 0.1 0.7 .182 5.8 7.0 .821
difference:+7+4.4+7.0+0.7+2.6+3.4+8.9+0.1+0.6-2.6-1.1+2.4+5.7+.031+1.2+2.5+.237+3.5+3.9+.085
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

Season 4

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1990-912014-15
Team Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
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 Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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%
Kevin Johnson 77 36.0 22.2 0.7 2.8 3.5 10.1 2.1 0.1 3.5 2.3 7.7 14.9 .516 0.1 0.6 .205 6.7 8.0 .843
difference:+13+4.2+5.7+0.6+3.1+3.7+7.6+0.2+0.7-2.0-0.3+1.5+2.1+.037+0.9+2.4+.144+3.5+4.1+.041
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 4 36.5 12.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 9.8 0.5 0.3 3.0 2.3 4.0 13.3 .302 0.3 1.8 .143 4.5 7.5 .600
difference:+3+0.8+7.5+1.4+2.8+4.1+7.2+0.6+0.3-0.9-0.3+3.4+2.3+.175+1.3+1.9+.280+0.6+2.5+.171
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

Season 5

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1991-922015-16
Team Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 78 37.2 19.7 0.8 3.0 3.7 10.7 1.5 0.3 3.5 2.3 6.9 14.4 .479 0.1 0.6 .217 5.7 7.1 .807
difference:+6+4.1+1.5+0.5+2.5+3.1+8.1+0.3+0.7-2.0-0.5+0.8+0.7+.027+1.7+3.4+.226+1.6+2.5+.067
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 8 41.9 23.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 11.6 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.0 7.8 16.0 .484 0.4 0.8 .500 7.8 9.0 .861
difference:+2+8.0+1.1+0.4+1.8+2.2+8.8+1.1+1.1-1.5-0.9+0.5+0.6+.016+1.3+3.1+.064+3.6+3.9+.037
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

Season 6

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1992-932016-17
Team Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf 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%
Kevin Johnson 49 33.5 16.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 7.8 1.7 0.4 3.1 2.0 5.8 11.5 .499 0.0 0.2 .125 4.6 5.6 .819
difference:+25+0.1+9.4+0.5+3.2+3.7+4.3+0.1+0.3-1.0-0.4+2.8+6.2+.014+2.0+5.0+.255+1.7+1.6+.061
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 23 39.7 17.8 0.4 2.3 2.7 7.9 1.5 0.6 3.7 2.5 6.2 13.0 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 6.8 .795
difference:+11+3.9+9.9+1.2+3.9+5.1+3.3+0.2+0.1-1.5-0.7+2.6+3.8+.045+2.1+4.5+.455+2.5+1.7+.136
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

Season 7

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1993-942017-18
Team Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 67 36.6 20.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 9.5 1.9 0.1 3.5 1.9 7.1 14.6 .487 0.1 0.4 .222 5.7 6.9 .819
difference:+58+13.3+3.8+0.1+2.3+2.2+7.2+0.1+0.9-1.7-0.9+1.3+2.3+.019+1.1+3.5+.092+2.3+2.7+.003
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 10 42.7 26.6 1.0 2.5 3.5 9.6 1.0 0.1 3.4 2.3 9.7 21.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .300 6.9 8.1 .852
Kawhi Leonard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1994-952018-19
Team Phoenix SunsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA 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%
Kevin Johnson 47 28.8 15.5 0.7 1.8 2.4 7.7 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 5.2 11.1 .470 0.1 0.6 .154 5.0 6.1 .810
difference:+13+5.2+11.1+0.6+4.2+4.9+4.4+0.8-0.2-0.4+4.1+7.7+.026+1.8+4.4+.217+1.1+1.0+.044
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 10 37.1 24.8 0.7 3.4 4.1 9.3 0.9 0.4 3.4 2.5 8.6 15.0 .573 0.5 1.0 .500 7.1 8.4 .845
difference:+14+2.0+5.7+1.6+3.4+5.0+5.4+0.8+0.3-0.3-0.2+1.5+5.7+.083+1.8+5.0+.121+0.9+0.6+.039
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

Season 9

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1995-962019-20
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdClippers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 56 35.8 18.7 0.8 3.2 3.9 9.2 1.5 0.2 3.0 2.6 6.1 12.0 .507 0.4 1.0 .368 6.1 7.1 .859
difference:+1+3.4+8.4+0.1+2.9+3.2+4.3+0.3+0.4-0.4-0.6+3.2+7.9+.037+1.8+4.7+.010+0.1+.027
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 4 37.8 17.3 0.5 3.8 4.3 10.8 0.5 0.5 2.8 2.0 6.8 14.3 .474 0.3 1.0 .250 3.5 4.3 .824
difference:+9+1.5+10.9+1.3+3.7+5.0+5.3+1.8+0.3-0.3-0.2+3.3+6.3+.015+1.5+4.6+.079+2.7+2.9+.038
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

Season 10

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1996-972020-21
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdClippers Lost West Conf 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%
Kevin Johnson 70 38.0 20.1 0.8 2.8 3.6 9.3 1.5 0.2 3.1 2.0 6.3 12.7 .496 1.3 2.9 .441 6.3 7.4 .852
difference:+18+3.9+4.7+0.3+2.6+2.9+4.1+0.1+0.2-1.1-0.4+2.6+4.8+.016+0.6+2.0+.043+1.3+1.7+.033
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 5 41.6 16.8 1.6 2.8 4.4 6.0 2.6 0.0 3.6 3.0 5.2 17.6 .295 0.6 4.4 .136 5.8 6.6 .879
difference:+6+2.3+13.6+0.4+2.9+3.3+1.6+0.5+0.8-1.4-0.4+5.9+1.8+.278+1.6+1.1+.257+0.2+0.2+.001
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

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

Season 11

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1997-982022-23
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdClippers Lost West 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%
Kevin Johnson 50 25.8 9.5 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.1 3.1 6.9 .447 0.1 0.5 .154 3.2 3.7 .871
difference:+2+7.8+14.3+0.4+2.8+3.2+1.0+0.9+0.3-0.3-0.5+5.5+9.9+.065+1.9+4.3+.262+1.5+1.7
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 4 30.5 13.8 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.8 0.5 0.3 1.5 1.5 5.8 10.5 .548 0.3 1.0 .250 2.0 3.0 .667
difference:+2+9.5+20.7+1.0+3.2+4.2+1.2+1.5+0.2-1.5-1.0+6.2+11.5+.003+2.7+4.0+.350+5.5+5.5+.215
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

Note: Kevin Johnson didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 12

Kevin Johnson Kawhi Leonard
Season 1999-002023-24
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 6 18.8 6.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 4.0 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.0 2.7 4.7 .571 0.2 0.2 1.000 1.2 1.2 1.000
difference:+62+15.5+17.0+1.2+2.2+3.4+0.4+1.3+0.9-0.6-0.4+6.3+12.4+.046+1.9+4.7+.583+2.5+3.0+.115
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 9 14.3 3.2 0.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 0.3 0.1 1.4 1.1 1.3 4.1 .324 0.0 0.3 .000 0.6 0.7 .833
difference:+7+15.2+8.8+1.5+5.1+6.6+0.6+1.7+0.4-0.6-0.4+4.2+7.9+.134+2.2+0.4+0.8+.166
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

Additional Years

* Kawhi Leonard played 2 seasons more than Kevin Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 14, from 2025 to 2026—Kawhi Leonard played in one postseason.