Kawhi Leonard In the Middle Of Scorching Hot Take By Former NBA Player
Former NBA Point Guard Jeff Teague has decided to drop a hot take that has basketball Twitter in a frenzy. According to Teague, Russell Westbrook somehow has a better career than Kawhi Leonard. Yeah, you read that right. The same Kawhi Leonard who’s got two championship rings collecting dust while Westbrook’s trophy case remains championship-free. Let’s grab some popcorn because this take is pretty outlandish.
Why Teague’s Take Makes Zero Basketball Sense
Teague played 13 seasons in the league, made an All-Star team, and knows hoops. But this opinion? It’s hard to defend. Teague’s argument hinges on the fact that Westbrook won an MVP award in 2017, while Leonard never captured that individual hardware.
“He doesn’t have a league MVP. You were never the best player in the NBA,” Teague said on the Club 520 Podcast. Here’s the thing, though – basketball isn’t played on Excel spreadsheets. It’s played on hardwood, and when the lights are brightest, Leonard has consistently delivered while Westbrook has… well, let’s just say his playoff performances have been about as reliable as a chocolate teapot.
The Numbers Don’t Lie About Kawhi Leonard’s Dominance
Let’s break this down, much like we would when explaining why pizza is better than Brussels sprouts. Leonard sits pretty with:
- Two NBA championships (2014, 2019)
- Two Finals MVP awards
- Two Defensive Player of the Year awards
- Six All-Star appearances
- Multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive team selections
Meanwhile, Westbrook’s resume features that lone MVP trophy from his triple-double chase season, nine All-Star nods, and a whole lot of first-round exits. Don’t get me wrong – averaging a triple-double is impressive. But you know what’s more impressive? Actually winning when it matters most.
The 2019 Playoffs Proved Everything About Leonard’s Greatness
Remember when Leonard went full-blown basketball terminator during Toronto’s championship run? That wasn’t just good basketball. That was poetry in motion with a side of “sit down and watch greatness.”
The man dropped 30.5 points per game in those playoffs while playing elite-level defense. He hit game-winners, carried a franchise on his back, and delivered Canada its first NBA title. That’s the stuff of legend, not stat padding. Westbrook’s best playoff moment? Maybe that time he… actually, let me get back to you on that one.
Why Individual Awards Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Sure, Westbrook’s 2017 MVP season was historically impressive – triple-doubles for days, carrying Oklahoma City after Kevin Durant’s departure, the whole nine yards. But here’s the reality check: Leonard has been the best player on championship teams. Twice. That’s not luck, that’s not circumstance – that’s pure, unfiltered basketball excellence when the stakes are highest. Championships aren’t participation trophies. They’re earned through blood, sweat, and clutch performances when lesser players fold like lawn chairs.
The Bottom Line On This Debate
Teague can have his opinion. That is what makes sports talk radio entertaining. But suggesting Westbrook has had a better career than Leonard is like arguing that a sports car is worse than a bicycle because the bicycle has more wheels.
Leonard has been the guy teams call when they need someone to get buckets in June. Westbrook? He’s been the guy teams trade away when they want to get serious about winning titles. At the end of the day, basketball is about rings, not regular-season stat sheets. Two championship rings trump one MVP trophy every single time.
