Popovich: Kawhi Leonard 'is the best player in the league right now'

The likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook are all deserving of consideration for the title of best player in the NBA.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, however, doesn't feel that anyone in the Association can hold a candle to Kawhi Leonard, who just led his team to eliminate the Memphis Grizzlies from the playoffs on Thursday night.

"Kawhi Leonard is, in my opinion, the best player in the league right now. He's the best two-way player, and does it all with such class. It's impressive," Popovich said following the Spurs' 103-96 series-clinching victory at the FedExForum.

The reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year was his usual dominant self in Game 6, finishing with 29 points on 8-of-19 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and 12 makes from the charity stripe in 39 minutes of action.

The 6-foot-7 forward scored 30 or more points in half of the games against Memphis, with his 43-point, eight-rebound, six-steal night in a two-point loss in Game 4 perhaps his strongest performance of the bunch.

Simply put, the Spurs may not have survived against the Grizzlies without Leonard being on the floor. San Antonio scored 24.5 fewer points per 100 possessions when he sat, and gave up 5.2 more points under those same circumstances.

His 31.2 points per game ranks fourth overall these playoffs.