Steven Adams vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and Steven Adams, 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.

Steven Adams played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Kawhi Leonard, who played 14. Steven Adams had the first of his seasons in 2013-14, 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
Steven Adams 12 8 2013-14 to 2025-26
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2013-142011-12
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsSpurs 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%
Steven Adams 81 14.8 3.3 1.8 2.3 4.1 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.9 2.5 1.1 2.3 .503 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .581
difference:+17+9.2+4.6+0.2+1.2+1.0+0.6+0.8+0.3-0.2-1.1+2.0+4.0+.010+0.6+1.7+0.1+0.3+.192
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%
Steven Adams 18 18.4 3.9 1.2 2.9 4.1 0.2 0.1 1.3 0.6 2.7 1.7 2.5 .689 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.3 .348
difference:+4+8.7+4.7+0.1+1.7+1.8+0.4+1.1+0.9-0.3-1.1+1.5+3.9+.189+1.3+2.9+0.5+0.2+.465
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2014-152012-13
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
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%
Steven Adams 70 25.3 7.7 2.8 4.6 7.5 0.9 0.5 1.2 1.4 3.2 3.1 5.7 .544 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.9 .502
difference:+12+5.9+4.2+1.7+0.3+1.5+0.7+1.2+0.6-0.3-1.5+1.4+3.4+.050+1.1+3.0+0.3+0.7+.323
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%
Steven Adams 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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2015-162013-14
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Thunder 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%
Steven Adams 80 25.2 8.0 2.7 3.9 6.7 0.8 0.5 1.1 1.1 2.8 3.3 5.3 .613 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.5 .582
difference:+14+3.9+4.8+1.5+1.2+0.5+1.2+1.2+0.3-0.1-0.9+1.8+4.5+.091+1.0+2.8+0.1+0.6+.220
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%
Steven Adams 18 30.7 10.1 3.4 6.1 9.5 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.9 3.1 3.8 6.2 .613 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 4.1 .630
difference:+5+1.3+4.2+2.1+0.7+2.8+1.0+1.2+0.2-0.4-0.2+1.5+4.2+.103+1.3+3.1+.419+0.3+1.0+.106
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2016-172014-15
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Thunder 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%
Steven Adams 80 29.9 11.3 3.5 4.2 7.7 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.8 2.4 4.7 8.2 .571 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .611
difference:+16+1.9+5.2+2.2+1.7+0.5+1.4+1.2+0.2-0.3-0.4+1.5+4.6+.092+1.0+3.0+1.2+0.7+.191
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%
Steven Adams 5 31.4 8.0 3.4 3.4 6.8 1.4 1.2 1.8 0.8 2.8 3.6 5.6 .643 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 2.2 .364
difference:+2+4.3+12.3+1.5+2.2+0.6+1.2+0.1+1.2-1.3-0.2+3.8+10.0+.166+1.6+3.7+3.1+2.8+.407
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2017-182015-16
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSan 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 Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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%
Steven Adams 76 32.7 13.9 5.1 4.0 9.0 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.7 2.8 5.9 9.4 .629 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.8 .559
difference:+4+0.4+7.3+3.8+1.5+2.2+1.4+0.6-0.2-1.0+1.8+5.7+.123+1.8+4.0+2.0+0.8+.315
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%
Steven Adams 6 33.3 10.5 3.2 4.3 7.5 1.5 0.7 0.7 0.7 2.5 4.5 7.7 .587 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.2 .692
difference:+4+0.6+12.0+1.8+0.6+1.2+1.3+1.9+0.7-0.9-0.4+3.8+8.9+.087+1.7+3.9+2.7+2.9+.132
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2018-192016-17
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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%
Steven Adams 80 33.4 13.9 4.9 4.6 9.5 1.6 1.5 1.0 1.7 2.6 6.0 10.1 .595 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.7 .500
difference:+6+11.6+3.8+0.1+3.7+1.9+0.3+0.3-0.4-1.0+2.6+7.6+.110+2.0+5.2+4.5+3.5+.380
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%
Steven Adams 5 31.8 11.8 2.4 4.8 7.2 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.8 2.6 5.6 8.4 .667 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 1.6 .375
difference:+7+4.0+15.9+0.8+1.4+0.6+3.2+0.7+0.5-0.4-0.8+3.2+8.4+.142+2.1+4.4+.455+7.3+6.9+.556
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2019-202017-18
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Steven Adams 63 26.7 10.9 3.3 6.0 9.3 2.3 0.8 1.1 1.5 1.9 4.5 7.6 .592 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.2 .582
difference:+54+3.4+5.3+2.6+2.0+4.6+1.2+0.1-0.3-0.9+1.3+4.7+.124+1.2+3.9+1.5+1.0+.234
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%
Steven Adams 7 30.0 10.1 4.9 6.7 11.6 1.3 0.6 0.3 2.3 1.4 4.4 7.4 .596 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.9 .450
Kawhi Leonard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2020-212018-19
Team New Orleans PelicansToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Steven Adams 58 27.7 7.6 3.7 5.2 8.9 1.9 0.9 0.7 1.3 1.9 3.3 5.3 .614 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .444
difference:+2+6.3+19.0+2.4+0.8+1.6+1.4+0.9+0.3-0.7-0.4+6.0+13.5+.118+1.9+4.9+.371+5.1+4.8+.410
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%
Steven Adams DNP------ --- ----------
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2021-222019-20
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf SemisClippers 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%
Steven Adams 76 26.3 6.9 4.6 5.4 10.0 3.4 0.9 0.8 1.5 2.0 2.8 5.1 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.6 .543
difference:+19+6.1+20.2+3.7+0.7+2.9+1.5+0.9+0.2-1.1+6.5+14.8+.077+2.2+5.7+4.8+4.5+.343
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%
Steven Adams 7 16.3 3.4 2.1 4.3 6.4 2.1 0.1 0.1 0.6 1.7 1.3 3.0 .429 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.6 .545
difference:+6+23.0+24.8+0.3+3.2+2.9+3.4+2.2+0.7-1.9-0.5+8.8+17.6+.060+1.8+5.6+5.3+5.6+.317
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2022-232020-21
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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%
Steven Adams 42 27.0 8.6 5.1 6.5 11.5 2.3 0.9 1.1 1.9 2.3 3.7 6.3 .597 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 3.1 .364
difference:+10+7.1+16.2+4.0+1.1+5.0+2.9+0.7+0.7-0.1-0.7+5.2+11.2+.085+1.9+4.9+3.9+2.6+.521
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%
Steven Adams DNP------ --- ----------
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: Steven Adams didn't play in 2023-24.

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

Season 11

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2024-252022-23
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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%
Steven Adams 58 13.7 3.9 2.9 2.8 5.6 1.1 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.0 1.6 2.9 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.6 .462
difference:+6+19.9+19.9+1.8+2.6+0.9+2.8+1.0-0.8-0.6+7.0+13.9+.033+2.0+4.8+4.0+3.8+.409
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%
Steven Adams 7 22.1 5.7 3.3 3.3 6.6 0.6 0.4 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.7 2.9 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 4.3 .533
difference:+5+17.9+28.8+1.8+1.7+0.1+5.4+1.6+0.6-2.3-1.5+10.3+19.1+.055+3.0+5.0+5.2+4.2+.349
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

Steven Adams Kawhi Leonard
Season 2025-262023-24
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement 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%
Steven Adams 15 21.6 6.5 4.9 4.5 9.4 1.5 0.7 0.7 1.0 1.9 2.2 4.3 .508 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.7 .775
difference:+53+12.7+17.2+3.7+0.4+3.3+2.1+0.9+0.2-0.8-0.5+6.8+12.8+.017+2.1+4.9+1.6+1.5+.110
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%
Steven Adams 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

Additional Years

* Kawhi Leonard played 2 seasons more than Steven Adams in the NBA.

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