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Charles Barkley Says Kawhi Leonard Will Be Right Behind LeBron James If He Wins 3rd Finals MVP
- Updated: August 24, 2020
The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers could be on a collision course to meet in the Western Conference Finals.
That would mean a matchup between two superstars who have both won multiple NBA championships and Finals MVPs in the past decade: LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard.
According to a superstar from yesteryear, Charles Barkley, if Leonard breaks through and wins his third Finals MVP, he will rank just beneath James on the list of all-time greats.
"If Kawhi is able to win his third MVP in the finals, he might be right behind LeBron."
– Charles Barkley on Kawhi’s legacy
(Via Greeny w/Mike Greenberg) pic.twitter.com/uIEKJZs84J
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) August 22, 2020
Leonard is already one of a select few who have won the MVP of the championship series with two teams. The others are James and Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
However, no one has accomplished the feat with more than two teams.
By joining the Clippers along with fellow southern California native Paul George, Leonard has transformed the team from a good squad to one that’s been favored by some to win the world title.
Barkley seems to think less of James’ legacy than many other pundits. A few months ago, Barkley said that he ranks the Akron, Ohio native just seventh on the all-time list of greatest NBA players, right behind late Lakers great Kobe Bryant.