Kyrie Irving vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving, 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.

Kyrie Irving played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Kawhi Leonard, who played 13. Kyrie Irving had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, 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
Kyrie Irving 14 7 2011-12 to 2024-25
Kawhi Leonard 13 12 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

Rookie Season

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2011-122011-12
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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%
Kyrie Irving 51 30.5 18.5 0.9 2.9 3.7 5.4 1.1 0.4 3.1 2.2 6.9 14.6 .469 1.4 3.6 .399 3.4 3.8 .872
difference:+13+6.5+10.6+0.7+0.6+1.4+4.3+0.2-2.4-0.8+3.8+8.3+.024+0.8+1.9+.023+2.3+2.4+.099
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%
Kyrie Irving 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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2012-132012-13
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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%
Kyrie Irving 59 34.7 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.7 5.9 1.5 0.4 3.2 2.5 8.2 18.1 .452 1.8 4.7 .391 4.2 4.9 .855
difference:+1+3.5+10.6+0.5+1.8+2.3+4.3+0.2+0.2-2.1-0.8+3.7+9.0+.042+0.7+1.7+.017+2.4+2.7+.030
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%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2013-142013-14
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Kyrie Irving 71 35.2 20.8 0.7 2.9 3.6 6.1 1.5 0.3 2.7 2.3 7.5 17.4 .430 1.7 4.8 .358 4.1 4.8 .861
difference:+5+6.1+8.0+0.5+2.2+2.6+4.1+0.2+0.5-1.5-0.4+2.4+7.6+.092+0.7+2.0+.021+2.6+2.9+.059
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%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2014-152014-15
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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%
Kyrie Irving 75 36.4 21.7 0.7 2.4 3.2 5.2 1.5 0.3 2.5 1.9 7.7 16.5 .468 2.1 5.0 .415 4.2 4.9 .863
difference:+11+4.6+5.2+0.6+3.5+4.0+2.7+0.8+0.5-1.0-0.1+1.5+3.7+.011+1.1+2.0+.066+1.0+1.0+.061
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%
Kyrie Irving 13 35.7 19.0 0.8 2.8 3.6 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 2.2 6.2 14.2 .438 2.1 4.6 .450 4.5 5.3 .841
difference:+6+1.3+1.1+2.8+3.8+1.2+0.2+0.2-0.6-0.4+1.2+1.4+.039+0.5+0.9+.027+0.6+0.3+.070
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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2015-162015-16
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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%
Kyrie Irving 53 31.5 19.6 0.8 2.1 3.0 4.7 1.1 0.3 2.3 2.0 7.4 16.6 .448 1.6 4.9 .321 3.2 3.6 .885
difference:+19+1.6+1.6+0.5+3.4+3.8+2.1+0.7+0.7-0.8-0.2+0.3+1.5+.058+0.2+0.9+.122+0.9+1.0+.011
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%
Kyrie Irving 21 36.9 25.2 0.7 2.2 3.0 4.7 1.7 0.6 2.3 2.2 9.6 20.1 .475 2.4 5.5 .440 3.7 4.2 .875
difference:+11+3.0+2.7+0.7+2.7+3.3+1.9+0.9+0.8-0.7-0.1+1.3+3.5+.025+0.7+1.6+.004+0.5+0.9+.051
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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2016-172016-17
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers 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%
Kyrie Irving 72 35.1 25.2 0.7 2.5 3.2 5.8 1.2 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.3 19.7 .473 2.5 6.1 .401 4.1 4.6 .905
difference:+2+1.7+0.3+0.4+2.2+2.6+2.3+0.6+0.4-0.4-0.6+0.7+2.0+.012+0.5+0.9+.021+2.2+2.6+.025
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%
Kyrie Irving 18 36.3 25.9 0.7 2.1 2.8 5.3 1.3 0.4 2.7 2.1 9.6 20.6 .468 2.4 6.6 .373 4.2 4.7 .905
difference:+6+0.5+1.8+0.9+4.1+5.0+0.7+0.4+0.1-0.5-0.3+0.8+3.8+.057+0.3+2.0+.082+3.7+3.8+.026
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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2017-182017-18
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Kyrie Irving 60 32.2 24.4 0.6 3.2 3.8 5.1 1.1 0.3 2.3 2.0 8.9 18.1 .491 2.8 6.8 .408 3.9 4.4 .889
difference:+51+8.9+8.2+0.1+0.8+0.9+2.8+0.9+0.7-0.5-1.0+3.1+5.8+.023+1.6+2.9+.094+0.5+0.2+.073
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
* Neiher Kyrie Irving nor Kawhi Leonard played in the postseason in their season 7

Season 8

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2018-192018-19
Team Boston CelticsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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%
Kyrie Irving 67 33.0 23.8 1.1 3.9 5.0 6.9 1.5 0.5 2.6 2.5 9.0 18.5 .487 2.6 6.5 .401 3.2 3.7 .873
difference:+7+1.0+2.8+0.2+2.1+2.3+3.6+0.3+0.1-0.6-1.0+0.3+0.3+.009+0.7+1.5+.030+2.9+3.4+.019
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%
Kyrie Irving 9 36.7 21.3 0.6 3.8 4.3 7.0 1.4 0.4 3.1 2.9 7.7 19.9 .385 2.0 6.4 .310 4.0 4.4 .900
difference:+15+2.4+9.2+1.7+3.0+4.8+3.1+0.3+0.3-0.6+2.4+0.8+.105+0.3+0.4+.069+4.0+4.6+.016
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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2019-202019-20
Team Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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%
Kyrie Irving 20 32.9 27.4 1.1 4.1 5.2 6.4 1.4 0.5 2.6 2.7 10.0 20.8 .478 2.8 7.1 .394 4.7 5.1 .922
difference:+37+0.5+0.3+0.2+2.0+1.9+1.5+0.4+0.1-0.7+0.7+0.9+.008+0.6+1.4+.016+1.5+2.0+.036
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%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2020-212020-21
Team Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisClippers 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%
Kyrie Irving 54 34.9 26.9 1.0 3.8 4.8 6.0 1.4 0.7 2.4 2.6 10.2 20.1 .506 2.8 7.0 .402 3.7 4.0 .922
difference:+2+0.8+2.1+0.1+1.6+1.7+0.8+0.2+0.3-0.4-1.0+1.3+2.6+.006+0.9+2.1+.004+1.3+1.7+.037
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%
Kyrie Irving 9 36.1 22.7 1.3 4.4 5.8 3.4 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.1 8.6 18.1 .472 2.7 7.2 .369 2.9 3.1 .929
difference:+2+3.2+7.7+0.7+1.3+1.9+1.0+1.1+0.2-1.0-0.5+2.5+1.3+.101+0.5+1.7+.024+3.1+3.7+.049
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

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2021-222022-23
Team Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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%
Kyrie Irving 29 37.6 27.4 0.6 3.8 4.4 5.8 1.4 0.6 2.5 2.8 10.0 21.2 .469 3.4 8.2 .418 4.1 4.4 .915
difference:+23+4.0+3.6+0.5+1.6+2.1+1.9+0.1-0.8-1.2+1.4+4.4+.043+1.4+3.4+.002+0.6+1.0+.044
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%
Kyrie Irving 4 42.5 21.3 1.5 3.8 5.3 5.3 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.3 7.0 15.8 .444 2.0 5.3 .381 5.3 5.3 1.000
difference:+2+2.5+13.2+1.2+1.2+0.7+0.2+0.8-0.7-0.8+5.0+6.2+.101+1.0+0.3+.219+2.2+3.2+.118
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

Season 12

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2022-232023-24
Team Brooklyn Nets, Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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%
Kyrie Irving 60 37.3 27.1 1.0 4.1 5.1 5.5 1.1 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.9 20.1 .494 3.1 8.3 .379 4.1 4.6 .905
difference:+8+3.0+3.4+0.2+0.8+1.0+1.9+0.5+0.1-0.3-1.4+0.9+3.0+.031+1.0+3.4+.038+0.4+0.4+.020
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%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 13

Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard
Season 2023-242024-25
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost NBA FinalsClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving 58 35.0 25.6 0.8 4.2 5.0 5.2 1.3 0.5 1.8 1.9 9.7 19.5 .497 3.0 7.3 .411 3.3 3.6 .905
difference:+21+3.1+4.1+0.1+0.8+0.9+2.1+0.3-0.1-0.4+1.3+2.7+.001+0.9+2.2+0.7+0.3+.095
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving 22 40.0 22.1 1.0 2.7 3.7 5.1 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.8 8.5 18.1 .467 2.4 6.2 .390 2.8 3.3 .849
difference:+15+2.1+2.9+0.6+3.3+3.9+0.4+0.1+0.4-0.2-1.1+0.9+0.5+.070+0.3+0.9+.015+1.2+1.8+.071
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

Additional Years

* Kyrie Irving played 1 season more than Kawhi Leonard in the NBA.

In that period—his season 14 in 2025—Kyrie Irving didn't play in the postseason.

In that extra year over Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game