Vince Carter vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and Vince Carter, 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.

Vince Carter played 22 years in the NBA, 9 more than Kawhi Leonard, who played 13. Vince Carter had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, 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
Vince Carter 22 11 1998-99 to 2019-20
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 1998-992011-12
Team Toronto RaptorsSan 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%
Vince Carter 50 35.2 18.3 1.9 3.8 5.7 3.0 1.1 1.5 2.2 2.8 6.9 15.3 .450 0.4 1.3 .288 4.1 5.4 .761
difference:+14+11.2+10.4+0.3+0.3+0.6+1.9+0.2+1.1-1.5-1.4+3.8+9.0+.043+0.2+0.4+.088+3.0+4.0+.012
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%
Vince Carter 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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 1999-002012-13
Team Toronto RaptorsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs 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%
Vince Carter 82 38.1 25.7 1.8 4.0 5.8 3.9 1.3 1.1 2.2 3.2 9.6 20.7 .465 1.2 2.9 .403 5.3 6.7 .791
difference:+24+6.9+13.8+0.7+0.9+0.2+2.3+0.4+0.5-1.1-1.5+5.1+11.6+.029+0.1+0.1+.029+3.5+4.5+.034
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%
Vince Carter 3 39.7 19.3 3.0 3.0 6.0 6.3 1.0 1.3 2.7 4.0 5.0 16.7 .300 0.3 3.3 .100 9.0 10.3 .871
difference:+18+2.8+5.8+0.6+3.7+3.0+5.3+0.8+0.8-1.6-2.1+0.5+6.7+.245+0.8+0.5+.290+7.5+8.0+.238
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2000-012013-14
Team Toronto RaptorsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf SemisNBA 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%
Vince Carter 75 39.7 27.6 2.3 3.2 5.5 3.9 1.5 1.1 2.2 2.7 10.2 22.1 .460 2.2 5.3 .408 5.1 6.7 .765
difference:+9+10.6+14.8+1.1+1.9+0.7+1.9+0.2+0.3-1.0-0.8+5.1+12.3+.062+1.2+2.5+.029+3.6+4.8+.037
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%
Vince Carter 12 45.1 27.3 3.1 3.4 6.5 4.7 1.7 1.7 2.3 3.8 10.2 23.3 .436 2.1 5.1 .410 4.8 6.2 .784
difference:+11+13.1+13.0+1.8+2.0+0.2+3.0+1.1-1.0-0.9+4.9+12.9+.074+0.8+1.9+.009+2.5+3.1+.048
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2001-022014-15
Team Toronto RaptorsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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%
Vince Carter 60 39.8 24.7 2.3 2.9 5.2 4.0 1.6 0.7 2.6 3.2 9.3 21.8 .428 2.0 5.2 .387 4.1 5.1 .798
difference:+4+8.0+8.2+1.0+3.0+2.0+1.5+0.7+0.1-1.1-1.2+3.1+9.0+.051+1.0+2.2+.038+0.9+1.2+.004
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%
Vince Carter DNP------ --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2002-032015-16
Team Toronto RaptorsSan 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 Did Not PlaySpurs 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%
Vince Carter 43 34.2 20.6 1.4 3.0 4.4 3.3 1.1 1.0 1.7 2.8 8.3 17.7 .467 1.0 3.0 .344 3.0 3.7 .806
difference:+29+1.1+0.6+0.1+2.5+2.4+0.7+0.7-0.2-1.0+0.6+2.6+.039+0.8+1.0+.099+1.1+0.9+.068
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%
Vince Carter DNP------ --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2003-042016-17
Team Toronto RaptorsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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%
Vince Carter 73 38.2 22.5 1.3 3.5 4.8 4.8 1.2 0.9 3.1 2.9 8.3 20.0 .417 1.3 3.3 .383 4.6 5.7 .806
difference:+1+4.8+3.0+0.2+1.2+1.0+1.3+0.6+0.2-1.0-1.3+0.3+2.3+.068+0.7+1.9+.003+1.7+1.5+.074
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%
Vince Carter DNP------ --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2004-052017-18
Team Toronto Raptors, New Jersey NetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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%
Vince Carter 77 36.7 24.5 1.4 3.8 5.2 4.2 1.4 0.6 2.2 3.2 9.0 20.0 .452 1.6 4.1 .406 4.8 6.0 .798
difference:+68+13.4+8.3+0.7+0.2+0.5+1.9+0.6+0.4-0.4-2.2+3.2+7.7+.016+0.4+0.2+.092+1.4+1.8+.018
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%
Vince Carter 4 45.3 26.8 2.3 6.3 8.5 5.8 2.3 0.0 3.8 4.3 8.8 24.0 .365 1.5 4.8 .316 7.8 9.0 .861
Kawhi Leonard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2005-062018-19
Team New Jersey NetsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets 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%
Vince Carter 79 36.8 24.2 1.7 4.1 5.8 4.3 1.2 0.7 2.7 3.0 8.3 19.2 .430 1.6 4.6 .341 6.1 7.6 .799
difference:+19+2.8+2.4+0.4+1.9+1.5+1.0+0.6+0.3-0.7-1.5+1.0+0.4+.066+0.3+0.4+.030+0.5+.055
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%
Vince Carter 11 40.9 29.6 1.5 5.5 7.0 5.3 1.8 0.5 2.4 3.1 10.3 22.2 .463 1.3 5.3 .241 7.8 9.8 .796
difference:+13+1.8+0.9+0.8+1.3+2.1+1.4+0.1+0.2-0.7-0.8+0.2+1.5+.027+1.0+0.7+.138+0.2+0.8+.088
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2006-072019-20
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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%
Vince Carter 82 38.1 25.2 1.4 4.6 6.0 4.8 1.0 0.4 2.6 3.2 8.9 19.5 .454 1.9 5.3 .357 5.6 7.0 .802
difference:+25+5.7+1.9+0.5+1.5+1.1+0.1+0.8+0.2-1.2+0.4+0.4+.016+0.3+0.4+.021+0.6+0.1+.084
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%
Vince Carter 12 40.6 22.3 1.4 5.4 6.8 5.3 0.9 0.6 3.2 2.9 7.8 19.6 .396 1.8 4.5 .389 5.1 7.3 .693
difference:+1+1.3+5.9+0.4+2.1+2.5+0.2+1.4+0.2-0.7-0.7+2.3+1.0+.093+1.1+.060+1.1+0.1+.169
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2007-082020-21
Team New Jersey NetsLos 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%
Vince Carter 76 38.9 21.3 1.5 4.5 6.0 5.1 1.2 0.4 2.4 3.2 7.7 16.9 .456 1.3 3.6 .359 4.6 5.6 .816
difference:+24+4.8+3.5+0.4+0.9+0.5+0.1+0.4-0.4-1.6+1.2+0.6+.056+0.6+1.3+.039+0.4+0.1+.069
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%
Vince Carter 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: Kawhi Leonard didn't play in 2021-22.

Season 11

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2008-092022-23
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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%
Vince Carter 80 36.8 20.8 0.9 4.2 5.1 4.7 1.0 0.5 2.1 2.9 7.4 16.8 .437 1.9 4.9 .385 4.2 5.1 .817
difference:+28+3.2+3.0+0.2+1.2+1.4+0.8+0.4-0.4-1.3+1.2+.075+0.1+0.1+.031+0.5+0.3+.054
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%
Vince Carter DNP------ --- ----------
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2009-102023-24
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsClippers 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%
Vince Carter 75 30.8 16.6 0.4 3.5 3.9 3.1 0.7 0.2 1.4 2.5 5.8 13.5 .428 1.6 4.3 .367 3.4 4.1 .840
difference:+7+3.5+7.1+0.8+1.4+2.2+0.5+0.9+0.7-0.4-1.1+3.2+3.6+.097+0.5+0.6+.050+0.3+0.1+.045
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%
Vince Carter 14 34.3 15.5 0.6 3.6 4.2 2.3 0.9 0.2 1.6 3.6 5.3 13.1 .402 0.9 3.6 .235 4.1 4.9 .826
difference:+12+4.8+3.5+0.9+2.9+3.8+0.3+1.1+0.3-0.4-2.1+0.2+1.1+.056+0.9+1.1+.235+3.1+3.4+.159
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

Vince Carter Kawhi Leonard
Season 2010-112024-25
Team Orlando Magic, Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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%
Vince Carter 73 28.1 14.0 0.7 3.0 3.8 2.0 0.9 0.3 1.2 2.6 5.3 12.2 .437 1.6 4.4 .361 1.8 2.4 .740
difference:+36+3.8+7.5+0.2+2.0+2.1+1.1+0.7+0.2-0.7-1.1+3.1+4.6+.061+0.5+0.7+.050+0.8+0.9+.070
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%
Vince Carter DNP------ --- ----------
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

* Vince Carter played 9 seasons more than Kawhi Leonard in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 22, from 2012 to 2020—Vince Carter played in 5 Playoffs.