KAWHI LEONARD NAMED WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

SAN ANTONIO (December 21, 2015) – The NBA today announced that San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Dec. 14, through Sunday, Dec. 20.  Detroit’s Reggie Jackson was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. This is Leonard’s first time receiving the honor, becoming the 14th Spurs player to receive the award.  Leonard averaged 22.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.00 steals while shooting .564 (22-39) from the field and .538 (7-13) from three-point range as the Spurs went 3-0 for the week, extending their win streak to five games. He tallied 22 points (7-10 FG, 2-3 3FG, 6-6 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a 118-81 victory over Utah on Dec. 14, limiting Gordon Hayward to 4 points, 14.7 points below his average (18.7 ppg). Leonard followed that up with 27 points (9-15 FG, 4-7 3FG, 5-6 FT), 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds in 38 minutes in a 114-95 win vs. Washington on Dec. 16.  The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year closed out the week with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists in 36 minutes while helping the Spurs outlast the L.A. Clippers 115-107 on Dec. 18. For the year, Leonard is averaging a career-best 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.00 steals in 33.3 minutes while shooting .509 (202-397) from the field, .490 (50-102) from long range  and .875 (91-104) from the foul line.  He currently leads the NBA in three-point shooting, ranks 10th in steals and 18th in scoring. San Antonio currently has the second-best record in the NBA at 23-5, and set a franchise record by starting the season a perfect 15-0 at the AT&T Center.