Al Jefferson vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and Al Jefferson, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Al Jefferson played 14 years in the NBA, 2 more than Kawhi Leonard, who played 12. Al Jefferson had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, while Kawhi Leonard had his rookie season in 2011-12. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Al Jefferson 14 4 2004-05 to 2017-18
Kawhi Leonard 12 11 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2004-052011-12
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 71 14.8 6.7 1.7 2.7 4.4 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.9 2.7 2.7 5.2 .528 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .630
Kawhi Leonard 64 24.0 7.9 1.6 3.5 5.1 1.1 1.3 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.1 6.3 .493 0.6 1.7 .376 1.1 1.4 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 7 19.4 6.1 2.4 4.0 6.4 0.3 0.6 1.1 0.6 2.3 2.4 5.9 .415 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .750
Kawhi Leonard 14 27.1 8.6 1.3 4.6 5.9 0.6 1.2 0.4 0.9 1.6 3.2 6.4 .500 1.3 2.9 .450 0.9 1.1 .813

Season 2

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2005-062012-13
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 59 18.0 7.9 1.6 3.4 5.1 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.1 2.8 3.2 6.4 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 1.5 2.3 .642
Kawhi Leonard 58 31.2 11.9 1.1 4.9 6.0 1.6 1.7 0.6 1.1 1.7 4.5 9.1 .494 1.1 3.0 .374 1.8 2.2 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard 21 36.9 13.5 2.4 6.7 9.0 1.0 1.8 0.5 1.1 1.9 5.5 10.0 .545 1.1 2.8 .390 1.5 2.3 .633

Season 3

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2006-072013-14
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 69 33.6 16.0 3.4 7.5 11.0 1.3 0.7 1.5 2.0 3.4 6.6 12.8 .514 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.3 .681
Kawhi Leonard 66 29.1 12.8 1.2 5.1 6.2 2.0 1.7 0.8 1.2 1.9 5.1 9.8 .522 1.0 2.8 .379 1.5 1.9 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard 23 32.0 14.3 1.3 5.4 6.7 1.7 1.7 0.6 1.3 2.9 5.3 10.4 .510 1.3 3.2 .419 2.3 3.1 .736

Season 4

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2007-082014-15
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 82 35.6 21.0 3.8 7.4 11.1 1.4 0.9 1.5 2.0 2.7 8.8 17.6 .500 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 4.8 .721
Kawhi Leonard 64 31.8 16.5 1.3 5.9 7.2 2.5 2.3 0.8 1.5 2.0 6.2 12.8 .479 1.0 3.0 .349 3.2 3.9 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard 7 35.7 20.3 1.9 5.6 7.4 2.6 1.1 0.6 2.1 2.6 7.4 15.6 .477 1.6 3.7 .423 3.9 5.0 .771

Season 5

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2008-092015-16
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 50 36.7 23.1 3.4 7.5 11.0 1.6 0.8 1.7 1.8 2.8 9.7 19.5 .497 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.0 .738
Kawhi Leonard 72 33.1 21.2 1.3 5.5 6.8 2.6 1.8 1.0 1.5 1.8 7.7 15.1 .506 1.8 4.0 .443 4.1 4.6 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard 10 33.9 22.5 1.4 4.9 6.3 2.8 2.6 1.4 1.6 2.1 8.3 16.6 .500 1.7 3.9 .436 4.2 5.1 .824

Season 6

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2009-102016-17
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 76 32.4 17.1 2.4 6.9 9.3 1.8 0.8 1.3 1.8 2.7 7.4 14.8 .498 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.5 .680
Kawhi Leonard 74 33.4 25.5 1.1 4.7 5.8 3.5 1.8 0.7 2.1 1.6 8.6 17.7 .485 2.0 5.2 .380 6.3 7.2 .880
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard 12 35.8 27.7 1.6 6.2 7.8 4.6 1.7 0.5 2.2 1.8 8.8 16.8 .525 2.1 4.6 .455 7.9 8.5 .931

Season 7

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2010-112017-18
Team Utah JazzSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 82 35.9 18.6 2.9 6.8 9.7 1.8 0.6 1.9 1.3 2.9 8.0 16.1 .496 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.5 .761
Kawhi Leonard 9 23.3 16.2 0.7 4.0 4.7 2.3 2.0 1.0 1.8 1.0 5.8 12.3 .468 1.2 3.9 .314 3.4 4.2 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2011-122018-19
Team Utah JazzToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 61 34.0 19.2 2.2 7.4 9.6 2.2 0.8 1.7 1.0 2.5 8.5 17.2 .492 0.0 0.1 .250 2.2 2.9 .774
Kawhi Leonard 60 34.0 26.6 1.3 6.0 7.3 3.3 1.8 0.4 2.0 1.5 9.3 18.8 .496 1.9 5.0 .371 6.1 7.1 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 4 35.3 18.3 1.8 6.8 8.5 2.5 1.3 0.8 1.3 2.5 9.0 17.0 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 0.3 1.0 .250
Kawhi Leonard 24 39.1 30.5 2.3 6.8 9.1 3.9 1.7 0.7 3.1 2.3 10.1 20.7 .490 2.3 6.0 .379 8.0 9.0 .884

Season 9

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2012-132019-20
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 78 33.1 17.8 2.0 7.2 9.2 2.1 1.0 1.1 1.3 2.2 7.8 15.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .118 2.1 2.8 .770
Kawhi Leonard 57 32.4 27.1 0.9 6.1 7.1 4.9 1.8 0.6 2.6 2.0 9.3 19.9 .470 2.2 5.7 .378 6.2 7.1 .886
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard 13 39.3 28.2 1.8 7.5 9.3 5.5 2.3 0.8 2.5 2.2 10.1 20.6 .489 1.8 5.6 .329 6.2 7.2 .862

Season 10

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2013-142020-21
Team Charlotte BobcatsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bobcats Lost East Conf 1st RdClippers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 73 35.0 21.8 2.1 8.7 10.8 2.1 0.9 1.1 1.7 2.4 9.6 18.8 .509 0.0 0.2 .200 2.6 3.8 .690
Kawhi Leonard 52 34.1 24.8 1.1 5.4 6.5 5.2 1.6 0.4 2.0 1.6 8.9 17.5 .512 1.9 4.9 .398 5.0 5.7 .885
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 3 35.3 18.7 2.0 7.3 9.3 0.7 0.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 8.7 17.7 .491 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .800
Kawhi Leonard 11 39.3 30.4 2.0 5.7 7.7 4.4 2.1 0.8 2.2 2.6 11.1 19.4 .573 2.2 5.5 .393 6.0 6.8 .880

Note: Kawhi Leonard didn't play in 2021-22.

Season 11

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2014-152022-23
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 65 30.6 16.6 1.5 6.9 8.4 1.7 0.7 1.3 1.0 2.1 7.5 15.5 .481 0.0 0.1 .400 1.7 2.5 .655
Kawhi Leonard 52 33.6 23.8 1.1 5.4 6.5 3.9 1.4 0.5 1.7 1.6 8.6 16.8 .512 2.0 4.8 .416 4.7 5.4 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard 2 40.0 34.5 1.5 5.0 6.5 6.0 2.0 0.5 3.0 2.5 12.0 22.0 .545 3.0 5.0 .600 7.5 8.5 .882

Season 12

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2015-162023-24
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 47 23.3 12.0 1.2 5.2 6.4 1.5 0.6 0.9 0.7 2.5 5.2 10.7 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.4 .649
Kawhi Leonard 68 34.3 23.7 1.2 4.9 6.1 3.6 1.6 0.9 1.8 1.4 9.0 17.1 .525 2.1 4.9 .417 3.7 4.2 .885
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 7 24.0 13.3 2.0 4.1 6.1 1.1 0.6 0.4 0.9 1.7 6.0 11.9 .506 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .692
Kawhi Leonard 2 29.5 12.0 1.5 6.5 8.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 2.0 1.5 5.5 12.0 .458 0.0 2.5 .000 1.0 1.5 .667

Season 13

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2016-17-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 66 14.1 8.1 1.1 3.1 4.2 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.9 3.6 7.1 .499 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.3 .765
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Al Jefferson Kawhi Leonard
Season 2017-18-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson 36 13.4 7.0 0.8 3.1 4.0 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.6 1.8 3.1 5.8 .534 0.0 0.1 .000 0.8 1.0 .833
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------