Introduction

In the world of the NBA, ‘what if’ conversations often center around well-known names like Derrick Rose, Penny Hardaway, Brandon Roy, Tracy McGrady, and Grant Hill—players whose careers were marked by immense talent and potential but were ultimately derailed by circumstances beyond their control. These players showcased standout performances and extraordinary skills but faced setbacks (usually injuries) that prevented them from reaching their full potential.

While the spotlight often shines on these notable cases, many other players’ promising careers remain unexplored, leaving their ‘what if’ narratives in the shadows. This series aims to shine a spotlight on those underrated players whose ‘what could’ve been’ stories deserve more recognition. We’ll delve into their backgrounds, the pivotal moments that altered their trajectories, and imagine how different the NBA landscape might be if fate had taken a kinder turn.

Reasons For Being Overlooked

Kawhi is often overlooked in ‘what if’ discussions because, unlike many other players in these conversations, he has already experienced significant success in his career—winning two NBA championships and earning two Finals MVPs. Typically, ‘what if’ players are those whose potential greatness was left unfulfilled, leaving fans to wonder what might have been. Derrick Rose is a prime example; he won MVP at just 22 years old, but his prime years were cut short by injuries, which has elevated his ‘what if’ story to almost mythical proportions. Kawhi, on the other hand, has had his moments of glory, including leading a team to a championship as the number one option in an era dominated by Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. However, since entering his prime in 2016, Kawhi has averaged fewer than 50 regular season games per year, missing a total of 295 games, plus 24 in the playoffs. The question lingers—what more could he have accomplished if not for these setbacks?

Overall Potential & What If Scenarios

Had Kawhi Leonard been able to fully reach his peak for 5-7 consecutive years, we might be discussing him as a solidified all-time great, somewhere in the top 10 players in NBA history. His combination of destructive defensive impact and outlandish offensive efficiency, particularly in the playoffs, would have created one of the highest peaks the league has ever seen. Kawhi has been as reliable and productive as anyone not named LeBron in this era, and few players all-time can match his playoff impact. Since 2016, he’s averaged 28/8/4 on an incredible 63% true shooting in the postseason—unbelievable numbers, especially for someone as versatile on defense as he is.

What about some specific ‘what-if’ scenarios/questions:

• Could Kawhi have been the second-greatest player of his era?
  • I believe he would have won another ring and possibly a regular-season MVP, making his resume comparable to, or even surpassing, that of Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. This would have given him a very strong case for being the second-best player of this era, behind LeBron.
• What if he could have had 5 healthy years with Paul George in LA?
  • With the league being wide open during the 2021-2024 period, a healthy Kawhi and Paul George could have been the duo to guide the Clippers to their first championship, potentially bridging the gap between the LeBron/Steph era and the rise of the Giannis/Jokic era.
• What if he didn’t twist his ankle against the Warriors?
  • While it would have been a daunting task, Kawhi had the ability to knock off the juggernaut Warriors before his injury—his Spurs were up by 21 points in Game 1 at the time. If he had led them to victory, we would have witnessed an epic showdown between Kawhi and LeBron in the Finals. Regardless of the outcome, taking down a Warriors team featuring Steph and KD would have been one of the most iconic moments of the 2010s, further cementing Kawhi’s legacy as a player who could overcome even the toughest challenges.

How to remember Kawhi’s career

Despite his injury troubles, Kawhi remains in the top 20-25 of all time range for his career, a testament to his immense talent and work ethic. He should be remembered for his unparalleled two-way brilliance, combining unmatched physicality, lights-out efficiency, and relentless defensive pressure. While he often faces criticism and jokes due to his injury history, his contributions to the game should solidify his place in NBA history as one of the greatest players to ever step on the court. 

Appreciate him while we can—once he retires, we’ll probably never hear from him again. Shoutout to Kawhi!

Check out more Underrated What Ifs here!