Who Were the Top 2019 NBA Playoff Leaders in Scoring and Assists?

As I look back at the 2019 NBA playoffs, what strikes me most isn't just the incredible athletic performances but how leadership manifested through both individual brilliance and team dynamics. Having followed basketball for over fifteen years, I've come to appreciate that playoff success often hinges on that perfect blend of star power and genuine leadership - something that reminds me of Bahay's recent comments about embracing his captain role in just his second season, saying "I want my teammates to feel my leadership more, as it is what we need to play good basketball." That sentiment perfectly captures what separated the true contenders from the pretenders in those intense 2019 playoff battles.

When we talk about scoring leaders, Kawhi Leonard's performance was nothing short of legendary. The man averaged 30.5 points per game while shooting 49% from the field, and I still maintain his Game 7 buzzer-beater against Philadelphia was one of the most clutch shots in playoff history. What made his scoring so remarkable wasn't just the volume but the efficiency - he knew exactly when to take over games, much like a conductor leading an orchestra. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry put up 28.2 points per game despite playing through injuries, and Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 25.5 points while essentially redefining how a forward could dominate in transition. These weren't just stat-padders - they were artists painting masterpieces when the pressure was highest.

The assists category told an equally compelling story. Draymond Green's 8.2 assists per game as a forward still boggles my mind - the man was essentially playing point center while anchoring the defense. But for pure playmaking brilliance, I'd give the edge to Nikola Jokic, who averaged 8.4 assists while somehow making no-look passes from the post seem routine. What often gets overlooked is how these assist numbers reflected deeper basketball intelligence. Players like Kyle Lowry (6.6 assists) and Ben Simmons (6.0 assists) weren't just passing - they were controlling tempo, reading defenses two steps ahead, and making their teammates better in ways that don't always show up in traditional stats.

What fascinates me about examining these numbers years later is recognizing how they represent different leadership styles. Leonard led through relentless efficiency and clutch performance, while players like Green led through vocal direction and basketball IQ. This duality reminds me why I love playoff basketball - it reveals character as much as talent. When I think about Bahay's comments about wanting his teammates to "feel" his leadership, I see echoes of what made these 2019 playoff leaders special. They understood that statistics were just the surface; true impact came from elevating everyone around them.

The Toronto Raptors' championship run perfectly illustrated this balance. Leonard's scoring provided the offensive foundation, but it was Lowry's playmaking and leadership that created the team's identity. I've always believed championship teams need both - the superstar who can get a bucket anytime and the floor general who makes the engine hum. Looking at Golden State's final run before their hiatus, Curry's scoring was spectacular, but Green's facilitation was equally vital to their system. These dynamics make me wonder if we sometimes overvalue raw numbers compared to contextual impact.

Reflecting on these performances, I'm struck by how they've aged. Leonard's scoring barrage feels even more impressive given subsequent seasons, while Jokic's assist numbers from 2019 now look like early signs of his eventual MVP development. The truth is, playoff statistics never tell the whole story - they're snapshots of moments where preparation met opportunity. The leaders in scoring and assists weren't just putting up numbers; they were solving complex basketball problems in real-time under immense pressure. That's what separates memorable playoff performances from regular season stat lines.

As we move further from the 2019 playoffs, these statistical leaders serve as important benchmarks for current players. When I hear young players like Bahay talk about conscious leadership development, it makes me appreciate how the game's best performers have always understood that numbers are just part of the equation. The true greats make their statistics matter when it counts most, blending individual excellence with the intangible qualities that transform good teams into champions. That 2019 postseason gave us countless examples of this balance, creating memories and lessons that continue to resonate throughout the league today.