How to Dominate with Kawhi Leonard in NBA 2K17: Ultimate Player Guide

When I first picked up NBA 2K17 and decided to master Kawhi Leonard, I quickly realized this wasn't going to be like dominating with other superstars. You know how some players just feel overpowered right from the jump? With Kawhi, it's different - much like how wins aren't handed on a silver platter in international competitions featuring giants like Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran. There's a certain grind required, a specific approach that separates casual Kawhi users from those who truly dominate with him.

I've spent approximately 287 hours specifically playing as the San Antonio Spurs just to perfect my Kawhi gameplay, and what I discovered is that he's arguably the most balanced two-way player in the entire game when used correctly. His 94 overall rating doesn't even tell the full story - it's about how his specific skill set translates to virtual basketball. The first thing I always tell people is to forget about trying to make flashy plays. Kawhi isn't built for that. Instead, focus on methodical, intelligent basketball that slowly strangles opponents, similar to how teams have to carefully dismantle defensive stalwarts like Iran in international play.

On the offensive end, Kawhi's mid-range game is absolutely lethal. I've tracked my shooting percentages across multiple seasons, and from 15-20 feet, I'm hitting about 63% with him - significantly higher than the game's default settings suggest. His shooting form, while not the quickest release in the game, has a very clear and readable cue that makes timing consistent once you practice it for a few hours. What most players miss is how to leverage his post game. At 6'7" with a 7'3" wingspan, he can back down most opposing small forwards, and his fadeaway is money from either block. I personally prefer going to his right shoulder, where I've found the animation is slightly quicker and more reliable.

Defensively is where Kawhi truly separates himself, and this is where you can completely take over games. His 96 steal rating and 95 perimeter defense ratings are no joke, but it's about how you use them. I've developed this method where I play passing lanes aggressively when defending off-ball, which typically nets me 3-4 steals per game just from intercepting lazy passes. The key is anticipating when your opponent is about to make a cross-court pass - that's usually when you can get those highlight-reel steals that lead to fast breaks. And in transition, Kawhi's 80 driving dunk rating might not seem spectacular, but he finishes through contact better than almost any wing player in the game.

Where I think most players go wrong with Kawhi is trying to force him into being a primary ball handler. His ball handling is solid at 86, but he's not Kyrie Irving. Instead, I use him more as a secondary playmaker, running him off screens and using his size to see over defenders when he does put the ball on the floor. The pick-and-roll with LaMarcus Aldridge is particularly devastating - defenses have to respect both the pop and the roll, which often leaves Kawhi with an open mid-range look that he almost never misses.

I've noticed that against certain defensive schemes, particularly zone defenses, Kawhi becomes exponentially more valuable. His ability to find soft spots in the defense and hit contested shots means you can use him as a zone-buster, similar to how teams need specialized strategies against international powerhouses. His release is high enough that it's very difficult to contest effectively, even when defenders are closing out.

The real secret sauce to dominating with Kawhi, in my experience, comes down to understanding his tendencies and animations. After those hundreds of hours of gameplay, I can tell you that he has specific dunk packages that are almost unblockable, particularly his two-handed tomahawk from the baseline. There's also this subtle push-off animation he gets when driving left that creates just enough separation to get his shot off against tight defense. These small details make all the difference in close games.

What's fascinating is how his virtual playing style mirrors real life - it's not about flashy crossovers or deep threes, but about efficiency and defensive disruption. I've won games shooting only 12 times with Kawhi because his defensive impact was so profound. He generated 8 steals in one particularly memorable game against the Warriors, completely disrupting their offensive flow and creating easy transition opportunities.

The progression system in MyCareer mode also deserves mention here. When building Kawhi through the season, I always prioritize boosting his playmaking and ball handling first, as his defensive attributes are already elite. Getting his ball handling to 92 completely changes how he can attack closeouts, while boosting his passing vision to 85 makes him a legitimate triple-double threat.

At the end of the day, mastering Kawhi Leonard in NBA 2K17 requires embracing a certain philosophy - that domination doesn't always mean scoring 40 points or hitting logo threes. Sometimes it's about grinding your opponent down, possession by possession, until they have no answers left. It's the basketball equivalent of those international matchups where victory isn't handed to anyone, but earned through superior strategy and execution. When you finally unlock that level of understanding with Kawhi, he becomes not just another player in your arsenal, but the cornerstone of everything you do on both ends of the virtual court.