Last Updated on April 22, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Kawhi LeonardHere’s a detailed profile of basketballer Kawhi Leonard:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Kawhi Anthony Leonard
  • Nickname: The Klaw
  • Nationality: United States
  • Date of Birth: Born June 29, 1991
  • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
  • Height: 6 feet 6 inches (201 cm)
  • Weight: 227 pounds (102 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 3 inches (221 cm)
  • Standing Reach: 8 feet 10 inches
  • Shoe Size: 14 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: New Balance New Balance KAWHI IV, New Balance KAWHI III, New Balance KAWHI II, New Balance KAWHI, New Balance OMN1S, Air Jordan 32, Air Jordan 31, Air Jordan 30, and Air Jordan 29.
  • Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
  • Number: 2 (San Antonio Spurs), 2 (Toronto Raptors), 2 (Los Angeles Clippers)
  • High School: Martin Luther King High School (Riverside, California)
  • College: San Diego State University
  • Draft: 2011 NBA Draft, 1st Round, 15th overall pick (by Indiana Pacers, traded to San Antonio Spurs)
  • Teams Played For:
    1. San Antonio Spurs (2011–2018)
    2. Toronto Raptors (2018–2019)
    3. Los Angeles Clippers (2019–present)
  • Trade History: Kawhi Leonard Trade History
  • Rings: 2 NBA Championships (2014 with San Antonio Spurs, 2019 with Toronto Raptors)
  • Children: Kawhi Leonard has two children with his partner, Kishele Shipley: a daughter named Kaliyah Leonard, born in 2016, and a son born in 2019.
  • Siblings: Kawhi is the youngest of five siblings. He has four older sisters.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Kawhi Leonard fits the archetype of a two-way isolation wing scorer, combining elite perimeter defense with controlled, efficient shot creation as a primary half-court option. Defensively, he operates as a point-of-attack stopper who can switch across positions, disrupt passing lanes with exceptional hands, and handle late-game assignments against top scorers. Offensively, Leonard functions as a methodical mid-range shot creator and mismatch hunter, leveraging strength to reach spots in isolation while also providing secondary playmaking and reliable catch-and-shoot spacing. His physical profile—broad shoulders, strong base, long arms, and famously large hands—supports his ability to absorb contact, protect the ball, and generate steals. The overall play style is deliberate and low-mistake: Leonard controls pace, attacks selectively, punishes defensive breakdowns, and impacts winning through efficient scoring, positional defense, and composure in high-leverage moments.

Profile Notes & Context

  • Leonard’s height with shoes is 6 feet 7.5 inches.
  • Leonard’s playing weight is between 225-227 pounds.
  • When Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to an NBA championship, he proved he was one of the best players in the NBA. He won that championship the same year he was traded from San Antonio (no offseason to practice and develop chemistry), and he played great in the playoffs. He was the closest thing to Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant during that playoff run I had seen since they retired.
  • Leonard is one of the rare players who wasn’t drafted as a lottery pick yet became a great player. One of the reasons he fell to pick 15 of the draft is because he didn’t seem like a great athlete in college. He also made it difficult for us to see his body when he was in college, similar to Steph Curry. They wore loose uniforms that weren’t flattering.

Fun Facts

  • Kawhi Leonard has a sister, Kimesha Williams, who was convicted in connection with a fatal robbery at the Pechanga Resort Casino in 2019. Prosecutors said Williams and an accomplice attacked an 84-year-old woman inside a restroom while attempting to steal her purse; the victim later died from her injuries. Williams was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case drew significant media attention because it occurred while Leonard was among the NBA’s highest-earning players, though he was not involved in the incident.
  • Leonard has also been noted for his commute from his San Diego–area residence to the Staples Center during his early tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers. To manage travel time, he used helicopter transportation similar to arrangements previously utilized by Kobe Bryant. Following Bryant’s death in a 2020 helicopter crash, reports indicated Leonard purchased a residence at the The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Los Angeles, significantly shortening his commute to the Clippers’ downtown arena.

Player Insights

Kawhi Leonard captured the 2018–19 NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors and departed in free agency that offseason to join the Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard later missed the entire 2021–22 season while recovering from a torn ACL. In constructing the roster around him, the Clippers traded multiple first-round draft picks along with rookie guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who subsequently developed into one of the league’s elite players. The Clippers’ championship window also shifted when Paul George left following the 2023–24 season to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Sources:
NBA.com — Kawhi Leonard Player Bio
The Ringer — Kawhi Leonard Is the NBA’s Most Surgical Superstar
ESPN — How Kawhi Leonard became the NBA’s ultimate two-way force