Wayne Cooper vs. Kawhi Leonard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kawhi Leonard and Wayne Cooper, 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.

Wayne Cooper played 14 years in the NBA, 2 more than Kawhi Leonard, who played 12. Wayne Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, 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
Wayne Cooper 14 10 1978-79 to 1991-92
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1978-792011-12
Team Golden State WarriorsSan 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 %
Wayne Cooper 65 12.2 4.6 1.4 2.9 4.3 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.5 .437 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1979-802012-13
Team Golden State WarriorsSan 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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 22.5 11.0 2.6 3.9 6.4 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.8 3.1 4.6 9.5 .489 0.0 0.1 .250 1.7 2.3 .751
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1980-812013-14
Team Utah JazzSan 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 %
Wayne Cooper 71 20.0 6.9 2.3 3.9 6.2 0.7 0.3 0.7 1.1 3.1 3.0 6.6 .452 0.0 0.0 .333 0.9 1.3 .689
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1981-822014-15
Team Dallas MavericksSan 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 %
Wayne Cooper 76 23.9 9.0 2.6 4.6 7.2 1.5 0.5 1.4 1.2 3.8 3.7 8.8 .420 0.0 0.1 .125 1.6 2.1 .744
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1982-832015-16
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan 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 Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisSpurs 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 %
Wayne Cooper 80 26.2 9.7 2.7 5.0 7.6 1.5 0.3 1.7 2.0 4.0 4.0 9.0 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.5 .685
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 %
Wayne Cooper 7 32.6 12.4 3.4 4.6 8.0 1.3 0.3 1.1 2.4 4.7 5.1 10.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .882
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1983-842016-17
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 81 20.5 9.8 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.4 3.0 3.8 8.2 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 2.8 .804
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 %
Wayne Cooper 5 20.8 4.8 2.2 1.8 4.0 0.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 2.8 2.0 5.4 .370 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.6 .500
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1984-852017-18
Team Denver NuggetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 80 25.4 12.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.1 0.4 2.5 1.9 3.8 5.1 10.7 .472 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .685
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 %
Wayne Cooper 15 21.4 10.9 2.3 3.9 6.2 1.3 0.5 2.4 1.3 3.5 4.5 9.5 .469 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1985-862018-19
Team Denver NuggetsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 78 27.1 13.1 2.4 5.4 7.8 1.0 0.5 2.9 1.5 4.0 5.4 11.6 .466 0.0 0.1 .429 2.2 2.8 .795
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 %
Wayne Cooper 8 19.3 7.9 1.4 3.6 5.0 0.9 0.3 0.6 1.4 3.9 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.8 .682
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1986-872019-20
Team Denver NuggetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdClippers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 69 22.6 8.0 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.0 0.2 1.5 1.1 3.7 3.4 7.6 .448 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .725
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 %
Wayne Cooper 3 13.7 4.0 2.0 3.7 5.7 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 3.0 1.7 4.0 .417 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1987-882020-21
Team Denver NuggetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisClippers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 45 19.2 6.4 2.2 3.8 6.0 0.7 0.3 2.1 1.3 3.2 2.6 6.0 .437 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.5 .746
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 %
Wayne Cooper 9 10.7 2.0 1.8 1.9 3.7 0.7 0.3 0.9 0.4 2.1 0.9 2.6 .348 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1988-892022-23
Team Denver NuggetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 23.6 6.6 2.7 5.2 7.8 1.0 0.5 2.7 0.9 3.8 2.8 5.6 .495 0.0 0.1 .250 1.0 1.3 .745
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 %
Wayne Cooper 3 14.7 4.0 1.3 3.0 4.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 3.3 2.0 4.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1989-902023-24
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA FinalsClippers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 14.9 3.8 1.5 2.8 4.3 0.6 0.2 1.2 0.5 2.7 1.7 3.8 .454 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .641
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 %
Wayne Cooper 18 13.8 2.7 1.4 2.6 3.9 0.3 0.3 1.6 0.3 2.2 1.1 2.6 .404 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .526
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

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1990-91-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 67 11.1 2.2 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.8 0.9 2.2 .393 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .786
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 4.3 0.7 0.3 1.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Wayne Cooper Kawhi Leonard
Season 1991-92-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 35 9.8 2.2 1.1 1.8 2.9 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.4 1.6 1.0 2.3 .427 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.3 .636
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 9.0 1.3 0.3 2.3 2.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kawhi Leonard ------- --- ----------