NBA

NBA MVP Watch: Stephen Curry Deserved to Win Unanimously

Jay Kim  —  @ThirtyDimes May 11th, 2016
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Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

nERD Score: 19.1
Team Record: 67-15

• NBA Defensive Player of the Year
• NBA All-Star Selection (first time)
• Career-highs in Points (21.1) and Assists (2.6)

Arguably the best two-way player in the league, Kawhi Leonard showed that he could be just as unstoppable on the offensive side of the ball as he is on the defensive end. Leonard was able to play a career-high 72 games this season, including a personal best 33.1 minutes per game, which allowed him to capitalize on his offensive efficiency.

As he has done throughout his still-improving career, Leonard demolished his previous bests in total field goals, free throws, and three-pointers in a season by 40%, 45%, and 93% respectively.

Leonard has been seen more frequently in nightly highlight reels thanks to his fully-developed offensive prowess. With the ball in his humongous hands, Leonard has reached a level of confidence which has struck fear in his opponents from all angles. He ranked 3rd in the league in three-point shooting percentage (44%), 8th in True Shooting Percentage (62%), and 11th in free throw percentage (87%).

If it were not for Stephen Curry's historic season, Leonard would most likely have been awarded his first regular season MVP award.

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