Early Life and College Career
Born in Los Angeles, California, Leonard attended Canyon Springs High School before transferring to Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, where he excelled, winning the prestigious California Mr. Basketball award in his senior year.
He went on to play two seasons of college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs (2009–2011). Despite being initially overlooked in some scouting circles due to concerns about his shooting, Leonard quickly established himself as a dominant rebounder and defender.
Freshman Year: He led the Aztecs to the Mountain West Conference (MWC) tournament title.
Sophomore Year: Leonard averaged $15.7$ points and $10.4$ rebounds per game, securing a consensus second-team All-American selection and helping the Aztecs reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
He is one of the top rebounders in San Diego State history and tied the MWC record for career double-doubles.
Leonard decided to forgo his final two years of college eligibility and declared for the NBA Draft.
NBA Draft and Development with the San Antonio Spurs (2011–2018)
Leonard was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers but was immediately traded to the San Antonio Spurs along with the rights to Erazem Lorbek and Dāvis Bertāns in exchange for veteran guard George Hill. This trade is widely considered a masterstroke by Spurs general manager R.C. Buford.
Under the mentorship of legendary coach Gregg Popovich, Leonard's offensive game evolved significantly from primarily a defender and rebounder into a star.
Early Years: He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2012. He quickly became a critical component of the Spurs' rotation, reaching the NBA Finals in 2013, where the Spurs lost a hard-fought seven-game series to the Miami Heat.
2014 NBA Championship: Leonard played a pivotal role in the Spurs' 2014 Finals rematch victory over the Heat. He was named the NBA Finals MVP, becoming the third-youngest player to ever win the award, largely for his stellar two-way play, including his defense on LeBron James.
Peak Spurs Tenure: He went on to win back-to-back NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards (2015, 2016), an award rarely won by perimeter players, and was named to the All-NBA First Team twice.
His tenure with the Spurs ended controversially in 2018 following an injury-plagued season (he played only nine games) due to a lingering quadriceps injury. A widely publicized conflict arose between Leonard and the team's medical staff regarding his recovery and the handling of his injury, which ultimately led to him requesting a trade.
Toronto Raptors and the Legendary 2019 Playoff Run (2018–2019)
On July 18, 2018, the Spurs traded Leonard and Danny Green to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for All-Star DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a 2019 first-round pick.
Leonard's single season in Toronto proved to be one of the most memorable single-season tenures in NBA history.
Load Management: The Raptors cautiously managed Leonard's health throughout the regular season, pioneering the widespread use of the practice known as "load management," where a player rests for specific games (often back-to-backs) to ensure optimal health for the playoffs. Leonard missed 22 regular-season games, which drew some criticism but proved highly effective.
The Shot: His defining moment came in the Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, where he hit a dramatic, buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper that bounced on the rim four times before falling in—the first Game 7 buzzer-beater in NBA history.
Championship: He led the Raptors past the Milwaukee Bucks and then defeated the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, securing the franchise's first-ever championship. Leonard earned his second NBA Finals MVP award, becoming only the third player (joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James) to win the award with two different franchises. His individual playoff run was historically dominant, averaging $30.5$ points per game with an elite true shooting percentage.
Los Angeles Clippers and the Current Era (2019–Present)
After winning the championship in Toronto, Leonard exercised his free-agency to return home to California, signing with the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2019. The move was paired with the blockbuster trade that brought fellow superstar Paul George to the team.
The Clippers' move to acquire Leonard and George instantly made them championship contenders, but their time has been plagued by injuries and an inability to reach the NBA Finals.
Ongoing Health Issues: Leonard's health has remained the primary story, as he has continued to manage knee issues (including patellar tendinopathy) and suffered a torn ACL in the 2021 playoffs, which sidelined him for the entire 2021-2022 season.
"Load Management" Criticism: The practice of "load management," while successful in 2019, has faced greater scrutiny from the league and fans during his Clippers tenure due to the high volume of missed games.
Off-Court Controversy: Recently, Leonard and the Clippers have been the subject of an NBA investigation regarding an endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt company Aspiration. The controversy involves allegations that the $28$ million deal—partially funded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and a minority owner—was a "no-show" contract with a clause conditional on Leonard remaining a Clipper, raising concerns about potential salary cap circumvention. The Clippers and Ballmer have strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Despite the setbacks, Leonard remains one of the league's elite talents when on the floor, consistently delivering All-NBA and All-Defensive level production. His legacy is one of a uniquely focused, high-leverage superstar whose decision-making, both on and off the court, has reshaped the modern NBA landscape.