A player’s tenure with a team can often be defined by an individual moment — that is, one that is universally recognized and synonymous with a player’s career. Michael Jordan had a few, but the “Flu Game” stands out above them all. Christian Laettner’s incredible collegiate career all boiled down to one game-winning shot. Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance is another.
Up until Sunday night, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard didn’t have one of those moments. He’s well-known for a lot of great performances, specifically for the defense he played on LeBron James throughout the 2014 NBA Finals.