After monstrous performances in Games 3, 4, and 5, which helped his San Antonio Spurs turn a 1-1 series into a 4-1 romp, Kawhi Leonard was named NBA Finals MVP. He's just the fifth non-All-Star to win the award, and the youngest since his teammate Tim Duncan did it back in 1999.
In the Spurs championship-clinching 104-87 win Sunday night, The 22-year-old dropped 22 points on 7-10 shooting, grabbed 10 boards, dished two assists, had a steal and a block, and was a plus-16. That came on the heels of a 20-point, 14-rebound performance in Game 4, and a career-high 29-point outburst in Game 3.
A third-year forward, Leonard has seen his scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, and shooting percentages rise every season he's been in the league. But the 2014 Finals brought undoubtedly his finest showing to date.
For the series, he averaged 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks, while shooting better than 61 percent from the floor and almost 58 percent from beyond the arc. And as if that wasn't enough, Leonard also spent the majority of his defensive possessions shadowing LeBron James.
It was an All-World showing from one of the best all-around players in the game. And with the specter of retirement looming over some older members of the Spurs dynasty, Leonard let it be known that this franchise will remain in good hands for years to come.
