Kawhi LeonardJuan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
56% overrated | 35% accurately rated | 9% underrated
Other 92s: Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving
As is the case with Ball, this really comes down to Kawhi Leonard’s durability. And even if you crank all of his durability attributes up to 99, he stays at 99.
And frankly, it’s kind of absurd to think that a healthy Leonard is on the same level as Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell and Kyrie Irving and worse than Jalen Brunson (93), Devin Booker (93) and Anthony Edwards (93).
When he’s available, there are maybe five or six players in the NBA who impact winning as much as the six-time All-Star.
The 33-year-old has quietly become one of the league’s most consistent high-volume three-point shooters. He can dominate from the mid-range, too. He’s not a game-changing playmaker, but he’s a plus there, relative to his position.
And though he’s not at the level he was when he was competing for Defensive Player of the Year awards, Leonard can still neutralize plenty of opposing wings and forwards.
Again, you (or the developers of 2K) can justify just about any rating by saying you think this is what’s going to happen. It’s fair to ding him more than the game-makers did for injuries. And his 92 is probably within the margin of error.
But it still feels like Leonard is closer to the top five than he is to being outside the top 15.
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