Former NBA guard Jeff Teague sparked debate this week after claiming that Russell Westbrook’s career outweighs Kawhi Leonard’s, despite Leonard’s championship success.
Speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Teague dismissed the idea that Leonard ranks above Westbrook. “Kawhi Leonard not better than Russell Westbrook,” Teague said, via Sports Illustrated. “He not have a better career than Russell Westbrook. He won championships, but this is an individual award. Give me Russell Westbrook. He don’t have no league MVP. You was never the best player in the NBA.”
Westbrook’s resume includes the 2017 NBA MVP, nine All-Star selections, and three seasons averaging a triple-double. He holds career averages of 21.2 points, 8.0 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game across 1,200-plus appearances.
The veteran guard also led the league in assists three times and rebounds once, while becoming the NBA’s all-time leader in career triple-doubles with 198.
Leonard, on the other hand, built his legacy around postseason success. A two-time NBA Finals MVP, he delivered championships for both the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
He is a six-time All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and owns career averages of 20.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. In the playoffs, Leonard has consistently elevated his performance, averaging 21.5 points with 51 percent shooting across 146 career games.
Both players remain active in the league. Westbrook spent the 2024-25 season with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 13.3 points and 6.1 assists. Leonard continued to produce for the Los Angeles Clippers, posting 21.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
