Thanks for sending in this week's take, Danwoo. Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 season is impressive for many reasons. It is an impressive venture on both ends of the floor, efficient on offense and defense, and he led the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever championship. Starting with his stats, Leonard’s one year with the Toronto Raptors beats Kobe Bryant over most eras of his career. Bryant is most impressive for his high scoring, and while he has ten seasons with a higher points-per-game average, none of them are more efficient than Leonard in 2019. There’s another argument to be had as to which of Bryant’s seasons are actually his best. In 2006, he led the league in scoring with 35 points per game, but the rest of his stats weren’t as impressive. His MVP season in 2008 is also in contention, as are his 2009 and 2010 seasons when he led the Los Angeles Lakers to back-to-back championships. Based purely on stats, only his 2004 season stacks up to Leonard’s one year with the Raptors. Bryant put up 30 points, 5.9 assists and 2.2 steals but those are the only stats he beat Leonard in. However, stats do not tell the whole story. Leonard’s 2019 season is most impressive, as it was his championship run, famously beating the Golden State Warriors in the finals, preventing them from getting a three-peat championship and beating the Philadelphia 76ers with a game 7 buzzer-beater. I would by no stretch say that Leonard carried his team to a championship. He was surrounded by overall good players, but all of them were either at the end or beginning of their career. Notable veterans included Jeremy Lin, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, who were all nearing the end of their NBA tenure. Notable younger players include Norman Powell, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet, all of whom became 20-point-per-game scorers the year after the championship. Bryant in his 2008-9 championships did not have as impressive partners to play with. Other than Pau Gasol, no other player averaged more than 15 points per game. Given all these factors, it’s hard for me to say which is a better basketball player. Luckily, it ultimately comes down to my opinion, and I like Kawhi Leonard more, so I agree with Danwoo’s take.