DeSagana Diop vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and DeSagana Diop, 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.

DeSagana Diop and Kawhi Leonard both played 12 years in the NBA. DeSagana Diop had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, 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
DeSagana Diop 12 2 2001-02 to 2012-13
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

Rookie Season

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2001-022011-12
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
DeSagana Diop 18 6.1 1.4 0.3 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.1 0.7 1.6 .414 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .200
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2002-032012-13
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan 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 %
DeSagana Diop 80 11.8 1.5 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.5 0.4 1.0 0.7 1.9 0.7 1.9 .351 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.4 .367
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2003-042013-14
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan 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 %
DeSagana Diop 56 13.0 2.3 1.3 2.3 3.6 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.5 2.1 1.0 2.6 .388 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .600
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2004-052014-15
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan 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 %
DeSagana Diop 39 7.8 1.0 0.8 1.0 1.8 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.3 1.4 0.5 1.8 .290 0.0 0.1 .000 0.0 0.1 .000
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2005-062015-16
Team Dallas MavericksSan 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 Mavericks Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
DeSagana Diop 81 18.6 2.3 1.8 2.8 4.6 0.3 0.5 1.8 0.4 3.1 0.9 1.9 .487 0.0 0.0 .500 0.5 0.9 .542
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 %
DeSagana Diop 22 18.5 2.7 1.8 3.1 5.0 0.1 0.6 1.3 0.5 3.7 1.1 1.8 .615 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .611
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2006-072016-17
Team Dallas MavericksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
DeSagana Diop 81 18.3 2.3 2.0 3.4 5.4 0.4 0.5 1.4 0.8 3.0 0.9 1.9 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .558
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 %
DeSagana Diop 6 23.3 3.5 2.7 4.2 6.8 0.3 0.5 1.7 0.7 3.5 1.5 2.5 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.2 .429
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2007-082017-18
Team Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey NetsSan 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 %
DeSagana Diop 79 16.4 2.9 2.0 2.9 5.0 0.5 0.3 1.1 0.7 1.8 1.2 2.3 .522 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.9 .543
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 8

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2008-092018-19
Team Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte BobcatsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
DeSagana Diop 75 13.8 2.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5 1.7 1.0 2.3 .433 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.9 .333
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2009-102019-20
Team Charlotte BobcatsLos 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 %
DeSagana Diop 27 9.7 1.2 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.4 1.1 0.6 1.1 .517 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .222
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2010-112020-21
Team Charlotte BobcatsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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 %
DeSagana Diop 16 11.3 1.3 0.8 1.8 2.5 0.4 0.3 0.9 0.7 1.6 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .364
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2011-122022-23
Team Charlotte BobcatsLos 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 %
DeSagana Diop 27 12.0 1.1 1.2 1.9 3.1 0.9 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.3 0.6 1.6 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .167
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Kawhi Leonard
Season 2012-132023-24
Team Charlotte BobcatsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
DeSagana Diop 22 10.3 0.7 0.5 1.9 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.4 1.2 .296 0.0 0.0 .000 0.0 0.0 .000
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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