Shareef Abdur-Rahim vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and Shareef Abdur-Rahim, 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.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Kawhi Leonard both played 12 years in the NBA. Shareef Abdur-Rahim had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, 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
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 12 1 1996-97 to 2007-08
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 1996-972011-12
Team Vancouver GrizzliesSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 80 35.0 18.7 2.7 4.2 6.9 2.2 1.0 1.0 2.8 2.5 6.9 15.2 .453 0.1 0.3 .259 4.8 6.5 .746
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 1997-982012-13
Team Vancouver GrizzliesSan 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 82 36.0 22.3 2.8 4.3 7.1 2.6 1.1 0.9 3.1 2.5 8.0 16.4 .485 0.3 0.6 .412 6.1 7.8 .784
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 1998-992013-14
Team Vancouver GrizzliesSan 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 50 40.4 23.0 2.3 5.2 7.5 3.4 1.4 1.1 3.7 2.7 7.7 17.9 .432 0.2 0.7 .306 7.4 8.8 .841
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 1999-002014-15
Team Vancouver GrizzliesSan 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 82 39.3 20.3 2.7 7.4 10.1 3.3 1.1 1.1 3.0 3.0 7.2 15.6 .465 0.4 1.2 .302 5.4 6.7 .809
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 2000-012015-16
Team Vancouver GrizzliesSan 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 81 40.0 20.5 2.2 6.9 9.1 3.1 1.1 1.0 2.9 2.9 7.5 15.8 .472 0.1 0.8 .188 5.5 6.6 .834
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 2001-022016-17
Team Atlanta HawksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 77 38.7 21.2 2.6 6.5 9.0 3.1 1.3 1.1 3.2 2.8 7.8 16.8 .461 0.3 0.9 .300 5.4 6.8 .801
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 2002-032017-18
Team Atlanta HawksSan 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 81 38.1 19.9 2.2 6.2 8.4 3.0 1.1 0.5 2.6 3.0 7.0 14.6 .478 0.3 0.7 .350 5.6 6.7 .841
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 2003-042018-19
Team Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail BlazersToronto 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 85 31.6 16.3 2.2 5.3 7.5 2.0 0.8 0.4 2.2 2.6 5.9 12.4 .475 0.1 0.4 .265 4.4 5.0 .869
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 2004-052019-20
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 54 34.6 16.8 2.3 5.0 7.3 2.1 0.9 0.5 2.2 2.8 6.2 12.4 .503 0.3 0.7 .385 4.1 4.7 .866
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 2005-062020-21
Team Sacramento KingsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 72 27.2 12.3 1.5 3.5 5.0 2.1 0.7 0.6 1.5 3.2 4.6 8.8 .525 0.1 0.3 .227 3.0 3.9 .784
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 6 21.5 9.2 1.3 3.5 4.8 1.2 0.3 0.0 2.2 4.5 3.8 7.2 .535 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 2.5 .600
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 2006-072022-23
Team Sacramento KingsLos 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 80 25.2 9.9 1.5 3.5 5.0 1.4 0.7 0.5 1.5 3.0 3.9 8.2 .474 0.0 0.3 .150 2.1 2.9 .726
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Kawhi Leonard
Season 2007-082023-24
Team Sacramento KingsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 6 8.5 1.7 1.0 0.7 1.7 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.5 0.5 2.3 .214 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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