Kawhi Leonard vs. D.J. Mbenga Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of D.J. Mbenga and Kawhi Leonard, 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

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.

Kawhi Leonard played 12 years in the NBA, 5 more than D.J. Mbenga, who played 7. Kawhi Leonard had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while D.J. Mbenga had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Kawhi Leonard 12 11 2011-12 to 2023-24
D.J. Mbenga 7 5 2004-05 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2011-122004-05
Team San Antonio SpursDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 15 3.9 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.4 0.9 .429 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.3 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2012-132005-06
Team San Antonio SpursDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost NBA FinalsMavericks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 43 5.5 1.7 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.6 0.4 1.1 0.7 1.4 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 0.2 0.5 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 7 3.6 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.4 1.3 0.1 0.4 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 3
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2013-142006-07
Team San Antonio SpursDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 21 3.8 0.8 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.2 0.8 .313 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2014-152007-08
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 42 7.8 2.0 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.3 1.7 0.9 2.0 .464 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .417
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 7 4.3 1.4 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.1 1.3 0.7 1.1 .625 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 5
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2015-162008-09
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 23 7.9 2.7 0.4 1.0 1.3 0.4 0.4 1.0 0.6 1.4 1.2 2.5 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.3 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 7 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.9 .167 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 6
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2016-172009-10
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 49 7.2 2.1 0.7 1.1 1.8 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.3 1.1 1.0 2.1 .466 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .474
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga 3 4.0 1.7 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 2.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 7
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2017-182010-11
Team San Antonio SpursNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHornets 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 %
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
D.J. Mbenga 41 8.0 1.4 0.9 1.2 2.1 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.5 1.3 0.6 1.2 .469 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .722
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
D.J. Mbenga 5 5.2 1.0 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.2 1.4 0.4 0.4 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500

Season 8
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2018-19-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2019-20-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2020-21-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------

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

Season 11
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2022-23-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Kawhi Leonard D.J. Mbenga
Season 2023-24-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
D.J. Mbenga ------- --- ----------
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