Wins Defensive Player of the Year

Leonard wins the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. He helped the Spurs finish 3rd in defensive rating, with 99.6 points allowed per 100 possessions. Leonard joins Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only two players to ever win both a Defensive Player of the Year award and a Finals MVP award. Leonard:

It feels great. Growing up as a kid, you’re watching these players and you want to become who they are or get the accolades that they have. It just shows that hard work pays off.