Sportskeeda Awards 2014: NBA Players of the Year
After 30 years as the Commissioner of the NBA, David Stern stepped down and announced David Silver as his successor. The NBA Finals format changed from the 2-3-2 to 2-2-1-1-1. For the All-Star starters, fans were asked to vote for 2 guards and 3 forwards for the first time replacing the earlier format of voting for 2 guards, 2 forwards and a center.The two time defending champions Miami Heat became the first team since the Boston Celtics of the 1980’s to make four consecutive NBA Finals appearances but were dethroned in convincing fashion by the well-coached San Antonio Spurs.Kevin Durant ended his spell of finishing second by beating LeBron James to the MVP title last season. He became the first player since Allen Iverson in 2001 to be named the MVP and win the scoring title.As seen above, 2014 was a year of lot of changes in the league however Durant and James remain among top 5 players list. Who are the rest in list of top 5 players of the calendar year?
#5 Kawhi Leonard - San Antonio Spurs
A man of very few words, Kawhi Leonard lets his game do the talking for him on the court. In what was his breakthrough year, he displayed the fruit of the hard work he had put in with the San Antonio Spurs’ player development staff.
Given the job of guarding the best player on the planet in James at the biggest stages of them all, Leonard had a disappointing first two games in the NBA Finals. Backed by his Head Coach Greg Popovich, he stepped up his play in the next three games to a level that forced the hand of the panel of members responsible to name him as the NBA Finals MVP. His defense all through last season earned him his All-NBA Defensive team selection (All-NBA Defensive Second Team).
If it wasn’t for his post-season performance and play in the NBA Finals, Leonard would not have been on this list given the level of talent in the league. With Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili playing their last season and Tony Parker well past his prime, he is the frontrunner to be the next player to carry this prestigious franchise ahead into the future.