NBA: Class is permanent – Kawhi Leonard scores 50+ for the first time at age 35

Kawhi Leonard has battled through countless minor and serious injuries over the past few years, yet he never gave up. On the contrary, he always seemed to come back stronger and more driven, even as he moved into the later stages of his playing career. And despite pushing well past 35, the two-time NBA champion continues to stretch the limits of his own greatness.

On the night between Sunday and Monday, Leonard delivered the most efficient performance of his career. In his 14th season in the world’s strongest league — and against the top team in the Eastern Conference, no less — Kawhi put on a scoring clinic against Detroit, leading the LA Clippers to their fourth straight win, 112–99.

It was a victory that may not mean much in the standings for the team from the City of Angels, but one Leonard will remember for the rest of his life.

He finished the game with 55 points, accounting for nearly half of his team’s total. Remarkably, it was the first 50-point game of his career — a surprising statistic for a player who was instrumental in championship runs with both San Antonio (2013/14) and Toronto (2018/19). Until now, Leonard’s career-high had been 45 points, scored in January 2019 while wearing a Raptors jersey against Utah. Since then, he had reached 40 or more points on six occasions but had never come close to the 50-point mark.

Nothing early on suggested a night for the history books, as Leonard went into halftime with 25 points. And then — boom.

Leonard caught fire in the third quarter, pouring in 26 points to push past the magic number, all while shooting at a sensational efficiency. He went 17-of-26 from the field, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, and 16-of-17 from the free-throw line, while also adding 11 rebounds, two assists, five steals, and three blocks.

For the visitors, Cade Cunningham led the way with 27 points, five rebounds, and nine assists, while Jalen Duren followed with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and two assists.