The Los Angeles Clippers are in troubled waters after losing Paul George in the offseason, or at least that how it seems. Let former head coach (Ty Lue) and teammates tell it though, they remain confident in their ability to excel without the all-around All-Star. In fact, face of the franchise Kawhi Leonard told reporters on Media Day that he doesn’t “feel like it’s going to be harder for (him), personally.”
Kawhi Leonard on Clippers losing Paul George: “I don’t feel like it’s going to be harder for me personally. For anybody I’m on the court with, I don’t look at him to be my savior.” pic.twitter.com/lNouVoNehA
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 30, 2024
“For anybody I’m on the court with, I don’t look at him to be my savior,” the two-time Finals MVP says.
Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard Fiery After Paul George Skips Town
More than even James Harden perhaps, Leonard has every right to feel like he won’t be impacted by George. For starters, the veteran has played for three teams in his NBA career, winning NBA championships with two of them. He’s the only player besides LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win Finals MVP with multiple teams. Injuries have definitely affected his ability to be in the GOAT conversation. Nonetheless, there were a number of years where he was regarded as the best two-way player in the NBA.
At 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, Leonard excels at getting to his spots on offense. Hands as big as the plates on grandma’s table allow him to control the ball without doing too much dribbling. His footwork, one of the keys to his supremacy, would make Fred Flintstone jealous. His touch, which improved rapidly as he was entering his prime, is softer than a Canada Goose.
The fact that he’s probably just as good defensively gives him fans’ undivided attention. The Klaw, as he’s become known, is definitely a player who’ll take advantage of lackadaisical ball-handling. With his size, technique, and strength, he usually prevents scorers from making much headway. Even with him suffering a rash of injuries, he remains athletic enough to keep up with the top players in the NBA.
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Should Leonard be concerned by George leaving? Probably not, especially if a member of his supporting cast is ready to step into bigger shoes.
Plus, with George’s health arguably as unreliable as his, there’s a chance that his decision even works out for the Clippers. For one, it’s possible that they’ll be more consistent and have better chemistry. In addition, when the playoffs roll around, they may not have to worry about whether a top-three option will be healthy.
George is a tremendous talent; he’s a star for a reason. Bringing Leonard another established All-Star —a healthy one at that —would be a major boon for the franchise. At the end of the day, the NBA has a number of stacked teams.
However, if Leonard’s body of work is any indication of what he can do, the Clippers could legitimately win a championship while the star’s there.
