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San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard gestures after taking a pass and hitting a three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard gestures after taking a pass and hitting a three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Denver.
In conjunction with the All-Star break, CBS Sports commissioned its staff to select the 50 greatest players in NBA history.
It’s coming on the 20th anniversary of the NBA’s own list that was released at the 1997 All-Star Game.
The usual suspects are included, but one of the most intriguing is the youngest player on the list.
Kawhi Leonard was chosen as No. 50 on the list, placing him ahead of current players like Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook. And the story also hints that more growth could eventually skyrocket him much higher on the list of the NBA greats.
Here’s what the website has to say about the Spurs’ reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year:
50. Kawhi Leonard
“At 25, he is the youngest player on this list, and he has already drawn Michael Jordan comparisons. This is absolutely nuts for a player who was drafted No. 15 overall and had the statistical profile of someone who is “destined to play a complementary role in the NBA, at least in his first few seasons,” per DraftExpress. Leonard won Finals MVP in his third season, has two Defensive Player of the Year awards already and has grown into not only the premier wing defender in basketball, but one of the best all-around offensive players, too.
There are some other current names that were just short of Leonard on our list — Tony Parker, Vince Carter, Russell Westbrook, but Kawhi got the nod for his all-around impact and hyper-efficient production. When his career is said and done, it’s not hard to imagine him going down as a top-20 player in history.”
Michael Jordan is listed as No. 1 on the list, followed by LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar among the top five players in NBA history.
Other former Spurs on the list include
7. Tim Duncan
14. Moses Malone
27. David Robinson
43. George Gervin
48. Dominique Wilkins
Among the next 10 who would have been selected include Parker, Manu Ginobili and Dennis Rodman.
It’s an interesting list and one that will likely prompt a lot of debate.
Which was probably the reason the story was written in the first place.
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