Deron Williams Wants Kawhi Leonard, Not LeBron James, Taking The Last Shot. Here's Why

These days, the question of “Who takes the last shot?” has trended on social media. When it’s a former NBA player weighing in on debates like this, the discussion becomes even more interesting.

Deron Williams got to play against LeBron James when the King was barely out of his teens. Then, near the tail end of Williams’ career, a young man named Kawhi Leonard was drafted by the Spurs out of a not-so-high-profile California university.

James and Leonard have since established themselves as multi-titled superstars and former Finals MVPs. So, if Williams had to choose which of these players takes the last shot, who would he go with?

On a recent episode of the “To the Baha” podcast, Williams made his choice. The former Olympic gold medalist and three-time NBA All-Star went with Leonard. “I think Kawhi is better at making his own shot,” D-Will said, before clarifying, “I’m not saying LeBron can’t create his own shot.”

Though LBJ fans will likely take offense to Williams’ assessment, there’s some validity to his observations. As a shot-maker, Leonard is one of the most lethal three-level scorers in the league over the past decade. When the chips are down, the Klaw can hurt the opposition with a strong finish at the rim, an impeccable midrange shot, or a heartbreaker from deep.

James, of course, is not someone that you’d want to leave open in the clutch. Though he initially drew flak for passing up winning opportunities in his younger years, the four-time NBA champion has since proven himself to be a legitimate crunchtime threat.

In the end, though, Williams made an excellent choice. When it comes to buzzer-beating shots over the past two decades, few sequences can top the dramatic moment created by Leonard in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.

With the Raptors and the Sixers tied at 90, Toronto’s main man caught the ball with 4.2 seconds left. Dribbling towards the right corner, Leonard rose, launched his shot from an improbable angle, and waited along with the rest of the world as the ball danced around the rim.

“Is this the dagger?” TNT’s Kevin Harlan exclaimed. A moment later, Raptors fans erupted as Leonard cemented his legacy as a fearsome clutch shooter.

Thanks to Leonard’s “dagger,” the Raptors advanced to the conference final. Weeks later, they were crowned as NBA champions with Leonard taking home the Finals MVP award. 

That’s Williams’ pick to take the last shot. Not a bad choice at all.