Kawhi Leonard was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.
The Indiana Pacers chose Leonard in the first round out of San Diego State. He was then traded on draft night to the San Antonio Spurs in a deal centered on guard George Hill, so Spurs fans remember him as a 2011 rookie even though Indiana officially made the selection.
Leonard quickly became an important two-way player in San Antonio. He won the 2013–14 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award after helping the Spurs defeat the Miami Heat, then won a second Finals MVP with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
The 15th pick is often highlighted because Leonard greatly exceeded typical mid-first-round expectations. He became a multiple-time All-Star, an elite perimeter defender, and a two-time NBA champion. His draft-night trade is the key detail behind the question’s Spurs wording.