In a recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, former NBA player and current analyst Kendrick Perkins made a bold statement that has sparked considerable debate among basketball fans and analysts alike. Perkins declared that Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers’ superstar, is the best player in NBA history to have never won the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
Leonard has won two NBA championships, two Finals MVP awards, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Additionally, he has been selected to six All-NBA teams and seven All-Defensive teams. Despite these accolades, the MVP award has eluded him, even though he has been a strong contender multiple times.
Perkins’ argument centers around Leonard’s impact on the game, particularly during the playoffs. He highlighted Leonard’s historic playoff runs, including his pivotal role in the San Antonio Spurs’ 2014 championship and the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 title run. Perkins emphasized that Leonard’s defensive prowess and clutch performances in critical moments set him apart from other greats who never won the MVP.
“Kawhi Leonard-Jordan. Some of the greatest playoff runs in the history of the game. Then broke up happy homes. He then made one of the greatest players of all time tap out and I’m talking about LeBron James, especially when Kawhi was in San Antonio,” Perkins stated.
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Leonard’s closest brushes with the MVP award came in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, he finished second to Stephen Curry, who won the award unanimously after leading the Golden State Warriors to a 73-9 record. The following year, Leonard finished third behind Russell Westbrook, who made history by averaging a triple-double for the season.
While Perkins firmly believes Leonard is the best player never to win an MVP, other names often come up in this discussion. Players like Dwyane Wade and Jerry West also had illustrious careers without an MVP award. Wade finished third in MVP voting in 2009, while West was a runner-up four times.
Kawhi Leonard’s career achievements and his ability to perform under pressure make a compelling case for Perkins’ claim. Whether or not one agrees with Perkins, it’s undeniable that Leonard’s legacy in the NBA is already cemented, MVP award or not.
