Kawhi Leonard
2025–26
NBA player comparison
Kawhi Leonard vs. Paul George: 2025–26 season
Regular-season verdict
Kawhi Leonard has the higher model estimate for the 2025–26 season
This is a model estimate for the selected season. Its lineup adjustment also draws on earlier seasons; it is not a measurement of this season’s teammate improvement.
Paul George
2025–26
Impact comparison
+4.1LeadsSeason impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+1.7
#3LeadsSeason impact rank#41
+1.82LeadsEstimated defensive impactSelected-season lineup estimate · points per 100 possessions+0.47
+5.13LeadsEstimated offensive impactSelected-season lineup estimate · points per 100 possessions+0.33
2.9%LeadsSteal rate2.6%
8.4%LeadsTurnover rateLower is better; compare alongside offensive workload10.2%
33.5%Offensive usage23.3%
62.9%LeadsTrue shooting %57.0%
21.0%LeadsAssist rateShare of teammates’ made shots assisted while on court17.7%
11.5%LeadsRebound rateShare of available rebounds collected while on court9.4%
65Games37
2,085Minutes1,135
Kawhi Leonard's estimated impact per 100 possessions was +4.1, compared with +1.7 for Paul George. This compares their impact while playing, not their total contribution across the season. Both players are compared in the 2025–26 season using its published Impact Rate. A ranked comparison requires at least 450 minutes for each player.
Kawhi Leonard: 65 games and 2,085 minutes. Paul George: 37 games and 1,135 minutes. Playing time matters when judging the whole season; the impact estimate above is a rate, not a season total.
Kawhi Leonard ended a larger share of his team’s possessions, so the turnover rates are not an equal-workload comparison. Offensive usage measures the share of team plays a player ends with a shot, free throws, or a turnover while on the court—not every touch, pass, or act of playmaking. These rows provide context; they are not extra points added to the ranking.
Regular season only. Impact figures are estimates; small gaps are not exact. Playoffs, awards and titles do not determine the verdict.
Behind the estimate
Why the model rates them this way
The model starts with each player’s recorded individual stats, then adjusts that estimate using lineup results. The first two rows add up to the final estimate. All figures are points per 100 possessions.
Kawhi LeonardMetricPaul George
+3.54LeadsFrom recorded individual stats+1.46
+0.58LeadsAdjustment from recent lineup results+0.21
+4.12LeadsFinal estimated impact+1.67
Lineup evidence: Kawhi Leonard — 3 seasons; Paul George — 3 seasons. This adjustment is not necessarily based on the selected season alone.
Offensive and defensive lineup estimates for the selected season
These selected-season estimates account for who played alongside and against each player. Positive means better than average; a positive defensive figure means fewer points allowed. They are separate estimates—not additional points added to the calculation above. They do not measure how much individual teammates improved.
Kawhi LeonardMetricPaul George
+5.13LeadsAdjusted offensive impact+0.33
+1.82LeadsAdjusted defensive impact+0.47
What this does not establish: these figures do not prove that either player made his teammates shoot better. The observed with/without results below answer a different question and do not change the ranking. A small difference in the estimates is not a decisive basketball distinction.
Full comparison · 2025–26 season
Understand the numbers
Start with impact, then compare playing time and skills. Team results add context. These are not categories to tally into a winner.
1 · Ranking evidence
Impact: who ranks higher, and why?
The impact estimate compares performance while playing, not total contribution over the season. The individual-stat estimate plus the lineup adjustment gives the final estimate.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Season impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average | +4.1Better result for this metric. | +1.7 |
| Season impact rank | #3Better result for this metric. | #41 |
| From recorded individual stats | +3.54Better result for this metric. | +1.46 |
| Adjustment from recent lineup results | +0.58Better result for this metric. | +0.21 |
Kawhi Leonard: 3 seasons of lineup evidence. Paul George: 3 seasons of lineup evidence. The adjustment is not necessarily based on this season alone.
Show more stats: Impact
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Final estimated impact | +4.12Better result for this metric. | +1.67 |
2 · Playing time and responsibility
How much did each player take on?
Read games and minutes alongside impact. Offensive usage is the share of team plays a player ends with a shot, free throws, or a turnover while on court. More usage is not automatically better.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 65 | 37 |
| Minutes | 2,085 | 1,135 |
| Offensive usage | 33.5% | 23.3% |
3 · Individual skills
Where does each player have an advantage?
These figures describe the selected regular seasons. They provide context, not extra points added to the verdict. Green marks the better result for a metric, including lower turnover rates. Workload and shot-selection measures stay neutral. These rows are not votes toward the ranking.
Shooting
True shooting includes two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| True shooting percentage | 62.9%Better result for this metric. | 57.0% |
Show more stats: Shooting
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Field-goal percentage | 50.5%Better result for this metric. | 43.9% |
| Three-point percentage | 38.7% | 39.2%Better result for this metric. |
| Free-throw percentage | 89.2%Better result for this metric. | 82.0% |
| Three-point attempt rateShare of field-goal attempts taken from three; describes shot selection, not quality | 35.4% | 49.7% |
Passing
Assist rate is the share of teammates’ made shots assisted while the player is on court. Read turnovers alongside offensive workload; lower turnover rate is generally better.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Assist rateShare of teammates’ made shots assisted while on court | 21.0%Better result for this metric. | 17.7% |
| Assists per game | 3.6 | 3.6 |
Show more stats: Passing
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover rateLower is better; compare alongside offensive workload | 8.4%Better result for this metric. | 10.2% |
Rebounding
Rebound rate is the share of available rebounds collected while on court.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Rebound rateShare of available rebounds collected while on court | 11.5%Better result for this metric. | 9.4% |
| Rebounds per game | 6.4Better result for this metric. | 5.3 |
Defense
Steals and blocks describe only part of defense. They do not capture every stop, rotation, or matchup.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Steal rate | 2.9%Better result for this metric. | 2.6% |
Show more stats: Defense
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Block rateShare of opponents’ two-point attempts blocked while on court | 1.2% | 1.3%Better result for this metric. |
Scoring
Points per game describe scoring volume, not overall impact.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 27.9Better result for this metric. | 17.3 |
4 · Team context, not ranking inputs
What happened with and without them?
These are observed results, not adjusted model estimates. Different teammates, opponents, injuries, and substitutions can explain some of the difference. They do not establish cause and effect or change the ranking.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Change in team scoringPositive means more points scored; not adjusted for lineups | Unavailable | +3.02 |
| Improvement in team defensePositive means fewer points allowed with him; not adjusted for lineups | Unavailable | +1.82 |
| Teammate shooting differencePercentage-point difference, not relative percent change; not proof of causation | Unavailable | +0.8% |
Incomplete samples. Kawhi Leonard: sample unavailable. Paul George: 1,080 of 1,135 recorded player minutes covered (95.2%), and 2,800 minutes without him. Missing minutes are not zero. Minute coverage is not a possession count.
Show more stats: Observed team results
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Team scoring — with himPoints scored per 100 possessions | Unavailable | 117.8 |
| Team scoring — without himPoints scored per 100 possessions | Unavailable | 114.8 |
| Points allowed — with himOpponent points per 100 possessions | Unavailable | 113.9 |
| Points allowed — without himOpponent points per 100 possessions | Unavailable | 115.7 |
| Teammate shooting — with himWeighted same-teammate shooting percentage, with extra credit for threes | Unavailable | 54.1% |
| Teammate shooting — without himUses the same teammates and weights as the with-player row | Unavailable | 53.3% |
How teammate shooting is calculated
We exclude the player’s own shots and compare the same teammates with and without him. Each teammate needs at least 100 minutes in both situations. Both averages use the smaller of each teammate’s two minute totals as the weight. Three-pointers receive extra credit. Differences are percentage points, not relative percentage increases. This is an average of teammate rates, not pooled team shooting.
Paul George: 9 qualifying teammates
- Andre Drummond: 51.9% with him (275 minutes), 52.1% without him (904 minutes).
- Joel Embiid: 52.0% with him (558 minutes), 53.3% without him (643 minutes).
- Kelly Oubre Jr.: 51.5% with him (265 minutes), 55.4% without him (1,254 minutes).
- Quentin Grimes: 53.8% with him (476 minutes), 53.3% without him (1,685 minutes).
- Tyrese Maxey: 53.6% with him (791 minutes), 53.7% without him (1,804 minutes).
- Dominick Barlow: 56.7% with him (458 minutes), 56.6% without him (1,195 minutes).
- Adem Bona: 66.7% with him (247 minutes), 58.7% without him (951 minutes).
- Jared McCain: 40.5% with him (208 minutes), 51.9% without him (412 minutes).
- VJ Edgecombe: 56.1% with him (793 minutes), 49.3% without him (1,759 minutes).
Sample retrieved 2026-10-12. Source rates are rounded.
Selected-season adjusted lineup estimates
These account for who played alongside and against each player. Positive defense means fewer points allowed. They are separate from the observed results and are not additional points added to the model calculation.
| Metric | Kawhi Leonard | Paul George |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted offensive impact | +5.13Better result for this metric. | +0.33 |
| Adjusted defensive impact | +1.82Better result for this metric. | +0.47 |
Four separate questions
Impact, winning, playoffs, and awards
These are different ways to understand a career. Only Regular Season Impact determines the hussEyquation verdict. The other three sections add basketball context without adding points or changing the rank.
Career to date. At least one player is active. Every total below stops after the latest completed season in this data; nothing is projected.
Regular Season Impact
Kawhi Leonard has the higher model estimate for the 2025–26 season.
Kawhi LeonardMetricPaul George
+4.1LeadsSeason impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+1.7
#3LeadsSeason impact rank#41
This is the ranking result. It uses regular-season impact only. Team records, playoffs, and awards do not change it.
Team Success
Kawhi Leonard leads every available measure below.
Kawhi LeonardMetricPaul George
741LeadsListed-team regular-season wins708
66.6%LeadsListed-team winning percentage55.5%
9Leads50-win team seasons2
3Leads60-win team seasons0
13Playoff team seasons13
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Final records for every listed team-season. A traded season can include more than one team.
Playoff Résumé
Kawhi Leonard leads every available measure below.
Kawhi LeonardMetricPaul George
12Playoff appearances12
146LeadsPlayoff games125
97LeadsTeam playoff wins57
3LeadsFinals appearances0
2LeadsChampionships0
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Team playoff results count only seasons when the player appeared in a playoff game.
Awards
The advantages are split across the available measures.
Kawhi LeonardMetricPaul George
7All-Star9Leads
0MVP0
7LeadsAll-NBA6
7LeadsAll-Defense4
2LeadsDPOY0
0Rookie of the Year0
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Major regular-season honors are recognition, not inputs to the impact ranking.
How each context field is counted
- Listed-team regular-season wins
- The sum of each listed team's final wins in every season the player represented that team.
- Listed-team winning percentage
- Those team wins divided by those teams' total regular-season games.
- 50- and 60-win team seasons
- Listed team-seasons that finished with at least 50 or 60 wins. Shortened seasons are not projected to 82 games.
- Team seasons reaching playoffs
- Listed team-seasons in which that team qualified for the playoffs.
- Playoff appearances and games
- Postseasons and games in which the player appeared.
- Team playoff wins
- Team wins from those postseasons. They describe team results, not individual credit.
- Finals appearances and championships
- Seasons when the player appeared in the playoffs for the finalist or champion.
- Awards
- Recorded NBA selections and major regular-season honors. A zero means the source records none; Not available means the source field is missing.
Source and scope Basketball Reference, NBA seasons 1950–51 through 2025–26, accessed 2026-10-09. Active-career totals are results to date through the latest completed season in the source.
Selected seasons
Era-centered impact
Both bars show the same NBA season. Missing or unqualified data does not establish a winner.
Kawhi LeonardPaul George
Estimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average
Striped bars mark seasons with fewer than 40 games. A dashed mark means that player had no season at the aligned point.