Pau Gasol vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and Pau Gasol, 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 / 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.

Pau Gasol played 18 years in the NBA, 6 more than Kawhi Leonard, who played 12. Pau Gasol had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, 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 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
Pau Gasol 18 12 2001-02 to 2018-19
Kawhi Leonard 12 11 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2001-022011-12
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan 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 >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 82 36.7 17.6 2.9 6.0 8.9 2.7 0.5 2.1 2.7 2.4 6.7 13.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .200 4.1 5.8 .709
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2002-032012-13
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 82 36.0 19.0 2.3 6.4 8.8 2.8 0.4 1.8 2.6 2.7 6.9 13.6 .510 0.0 0.1 .100 5.1 6.9 .736
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2003-042013-14
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 78 31.5 17.7 2.6 5.1 7.7 2.5 0.6 1.7 2.4 2.4 6.5 13.4 .482 0.1 0.2 .267 4.7 6.6 .714
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 4 33.5 18.5 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.5 1.0 1.5 1.3 2.5 7.0 12.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 5.0 .900
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2004-052014-15
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Pau Gasol 56 32.0 17.8 2.3 5.0 7.3 2.4 0.7 1.7 2.4 2.6 6.4 12.4 .514 0.0 0.1 .167 5.0 6.6 .768
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 4 33.0 21.3 3.8 3.8 7.5 2.5 0.5 1.8 1.8 3.0 9.8 20.0 .488 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.5 3.0 .500
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2005-062015-16
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Pau Gasol 80 39.2 20.4 2.4 6.5 8.9 4.6 0.6 1.9 2.9 2.3 7.5 14.9 .503 0.0 0.2 .250 5.3 7.7 .689
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 4 39.5 20.3 1.0 5.8 6.8 3.0 0.5 1.3 2.8 2.8 7.3 16.8 .433 0.0 0.3 .000 5.8 7.5 .767
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2006-072016-17
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
Pau Gasol 59 36.2 20.8 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.4 0.5 2.1 2.7 2.3 7.8 14.5 .538 0.1 0.2 .273 5.1 6.8 .748
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2007-082017-18
Team Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Pau Gasol 66 35.6 18.9 2.3 6.0 8.4 3.2 0.5 1.5 1.9 2.1 7.2 13.5 .534 0.1 0.2 .250 4.4 5.5 .807
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 21 39.8 16.9 2.6 6.7 9.3 4.0 0.5 1.9 2.1 2.9 6.7 12.7 .530 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .692
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2008-092018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 81 37.0 18.9 3.2 6.4 9.6 3.5 0.6 1.0 1.9 2.1 7.3 12.9 .567 0.0 0.0 .500 4.2 5.4 .781
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 23 40.5 18.3 3.0 7.9 10.8 2.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 3.0 7.0 12.0 .580 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.1 .714
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2009-102019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionClippers 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 %
Pau Gasol 65 37.0 18.3 3.7 7.6 11.3 3.4 0.6 1.7 2.2 2.3 7.0 13.0 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 4.4 5.6 .790
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 23 39.7 19.6 4.0 7.1 11.1 3.5 0.4 2.1 1.9 2.7 7.2 13.3 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.9 .759
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2010-112020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisClippers 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 %
Pau Gasol 82 37.0 18.8 3.3 6.9 10.2 3.3 0.6 1.6 1.7 2.5 7.2 13.7 .529 0.0 0.0 .333 4.3 5.2 .823
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 10 35.8 13.1 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.8 0.4 1.7 1.7 3.3 4.7 11.2 .420 0.1 0.2 .500 3.6 4.5 .800
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2011-122022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisClippers 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 %
Pau Gasol 65 37.4 17.4 2.8 7.6 10.4 3.6 0.6 1.4 2.2 2.0 7.1 14.1 .501 0.1 0.4 .259 3.1 4.0 .782
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 12 37.0 12.5 3.2 6.3 9.5 3.7 0.5 2.1 1.7 3.0 5.2 11.9 .434 0.2 0.4 .400 2.0 2.4 .828
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2012-132023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdClippers 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 %
Pau Gasol 49 33.8 13.7 2.3 6.3 8.6 4.1 0.5 1.2 2.1 1.9 5.5 11.8 .466 0.2 0.6 .286 2.6 3.6 .702
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 4 36.5 14.0 1.8 9.8 11.5 6.5 0.5 0.8 3.3 1.0 6.3 13.0 .481 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.8 .545
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

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2013-14-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 60 31.4 17.4 2.1 7.6 9.7 3.4 0.5 1.5 2.4 2.1 7.1 14.8 .480 0.1 0.2 .286 3.1 4.2 .736
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2014-15-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Pau Gasol 78 34.4 18.5 2.8 9.0 11.8 2.7 0.3 1.9 2.0 1.9 7.3 14.8 .494 0.2 0.3 .462 3.8 4.7 .803
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 10 31.7 14.4 1.7 7.7 9.4 3.1 0.5 2.1 2.1 1.8 5.6 11.5 .487 0.0 0.4 .000 3.2 4.2 .762
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2015-16-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 72 31.8 16.5 2.2 8.9 11.0 4.1 0.6 2.0 2.3 2.1 6.5 13.8 .469 0.3 1.0 .348 3.2 4.0 .792
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2016-17-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Pau Gasol 64 25.4 12.4 1.7 6.2 7.8 2.3 0.4 1.1 1.3 1.7 4.7 9.4 .502 0.9 1.6 .538 2.0 2.9 .707
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 16 22.8 7.7 2.4 4.7 7.1 1.9 0.4 0.9 1.1 2.2 3.1 7.1 .439 0.4 1.1 .333 1.1 1.5 .708
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2017-18-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Pau Gasol 77 23.5 10.1 1.7 6.4 8.0 3.1 0.3 1.0 1.4 1.6 3.7 8.1 .458 0.6 1.6 .358 2.1 2.7 .756
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 5 18.0 6.0 0.4 4.4 4.8 2.8 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.0 2.0 4.0 .500 0.2 0.6 .333 1.8 2.0 .900
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Pau Gasol Kawhi Leonard
Season 2018-19-
Team San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol 30 12.0 3.9 0.7 3.8 4.6 1.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 3.1 .447 0.2 0.4 .462 0.9 1.3 .700
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------