What Is Kawhi Leonard's Net Worth?
Kawhi Leonard is an American professional basketball player who has a net worth of $120 million. Kawhi Leonard began his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, where he quickly made a name for himself, winning the NBA Finals MVP in 2014 after leading his team to a championship victory. Leonard's tenure with the Spurs was marked by his defensive prowess, earning him two Defensive Player of the Year awards. In 2018, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, where he played a pivotal role in securing the franchise's first NBA championship in 2019, once again earning Finals MVP honors for his performance.
Following his success with the Raptors, Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, aiming to bring a championship to his hometown team. While the Clippers have been contenders, they have faced challenges in their pursuit of an NBA title. Throughout his career, Leonard has been recognized for his quiet leadership, work ethic, and significant impact on both ends of the court. He has been selected for multiple All-Star games and named to All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams, solidifying his status as one of the league's elite players.
Kawhi's base salary of $50+ million makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NBA. He also earns millions more every year from endorsements.
Salary & Contracts
In his first decade in the NBA, Kawhi earned $150 million in NBA salary.
In 2015, Leonard signed a 5-year, $90 million contract with the Spurs. As a result of this contract, Kawhi's annual salary jumped from $3 million to $16 million to $17 million. Kawhi Leonard's 2019 contract with the LA Clippers was recorded as a three-year deal, amounting to $103,137,300 – fully guaranteed. Starting in the 2024/2025 season, Leonard's base salary is $52 million.
Early life
Kawhi Anthony Leonard was born on June 29, 1991, in Los Angeles, California. Leonard is the youngest of five kids (and the only boy) born to Mark and Kim Leonard. Kawhi's life was marked early on by tragedy when his father was murdered at their family-owned Compton car wash, which he owned and operated.
Kawhi Leonard attended Canyon Springs High School and transferred to Martin Luther King High School in his junior year. During his senior year, Leonard played alongside Tony Shell, putting up amazing performances that deemed him a 4-star recruit, according to Rivals.com. In 2009, Kawhi was listed as the 48th-ranked player in the nation as well as the #8 small forward overall.
College Career
Kawhi played two seasons at the college level for the San Diego State Aztecs, where his prowess on the court earned him a consensus spot on the second-team All-American squad during his sophomore year.
During Kawhi's sophomore season, he led the Aztecs to win their second consecutive conference championship, which resulted in the team entering the NCAA tournament for a second time during Leonard's tenure. The Aztecs then progressed to the round of 16 before being beaten by UConn (University of Connecticut), who would go on to win the NCAA championship that year (2011).
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NBA Career
Leonard chose to leave college after his sophomore year, and the Indiana Pacers drafted him immediately. However, he did not play any games for the Pacers. Leonard was quickly traded to the San Antonio Spurs, where he would begin a decorated career under legendary coach Gregg Popovich.
Kawhi finished his first season with the Spurs with a nomination to the All-Rookie First Team. He remained with the Spurs from 2011 to 2018 and racked up a range of sports honors while playing for the Spurs, including being named the NBA Finals MVP and winning the NBA Championship. Kawhi's style of play and attributes earned him the nickname "The Klaw" early on, and his stoic demeanor and personality made him a fan favorite.
Leonard won Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016, famously disrupting the most offensively efficient players in the league.
In 2018, Kawhi was traded to the Toronto Raptors after seven seasons with the Spurs. In 2019, he led the Toronto Raptors to its first NBA title and won his second Finals MVP award. After his contract ended on June 30, 2019, Kawhi moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles to play with the LA Clippers as a free agent in July 2019 alongside Paul George, Lou Williams, and Serge Ibaka. Today, Kawhi Leonard earns $23 million per year.
Leonard scored more than 30 points in a game thirteen times in the 2019 playoff season, further solidifying his standing as one of the best in the sport. His outstanding skills on the court have earned him comparisons to top-flight NBA talent such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry.
Famous Quotes
Though Kawhi Leonard is famously sparse with words, his most famous quote is, "The board man gets paid," which reflects his willingness to execute certain intangibles on the court that are necessary for a team to win.
Real Estate
In 2019, Kawhi paid $13.3 million for a home in Rancho Santa Fe, California. That same year, he paid $6.725 million for a penthouse condo in LA's downtown Ritz Carlton Residences. He listed this property in February 2024 for $6.5 million.
In March 2021, Kawhi paid $17 million for a home in LA's Pacific Palisades neighborhood:
