Kawhi Leonard expressed skepticism about the Los Angeles Clippers' chances of becoming contenders this season following their narrow victory over the Denver Nuggets. The team, which traded away key players at the deadline, now focuses on developing its younger core. Leonard's comments came after a 115-114 win that improved their record to 27-28.
The Los Angeles Clippers secured a 115-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, but franchise star Kawhi Leonard tempered any optimism about the team's playoff prospects. When asked about breaking into the contender tier with a younger roster post-NBA trade deadline, Leonard emphasized long-term growth. "Just development over time. I think it’s over now. It’s, the second half, like a fourth of the season left. But every day is a day to grow. A day to learn and get better. So just got to keep looking over time and see in two weeks if we’re getting better and see what happens from there," he said.
The Clippers sit at 27-28, holding ninth place in the Western Conference and a play-in tournament spot. Reaching higher seeds would be challenging, especially with injuries plaguing teams like the Golden State Warriors ahead of them. The trade deadline saw significant changes: James Harden and Ivica Zubac were traded away, bringing in young talents Darius Garland—who has yet to debut for the Clippers—and Bennedict Mathurin. These moves signal a rebuild, lowering expectations for the remainder of the season.
Despite a rough start at 6-21, the Clippers have the NBA's best win percentage since December 18, going 21-7. Leonard has excelled during this stretch, averaging 29.8 points, 6.87 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, alongside his defensive contributions. The team began the season struggling but has shown improvement, though Leonard's remarks suggest title contention is unlikely this year.