What a 2025-26 NBA campaign it’s been for the Los Angeles Clippers. The team’s off-season was marred by news that there may have been unethical practices used to sign Kawhi Leonard to his deal. Then, triumph ensued when news broke that Chris Paul was returning to the franchise he brought to prominence. He chose to play his final season with the Clippers, a decision widely known and regarded. As of last week, the Clippers have sent Paul home. Apparently, his leadership style didn’t gel well with the personnel there. There’s much to unpack, but at its core, the sentiment we can never lose is in all of this is that “the Clippers gon’ clip.”
A look back
Kawhi Leonard, as Stephen A. Smith would put it, is the worst superstar talent in the history of basketball. He has earned that distinction not because of his immense talent, but because of his questionable leadership skills. Everything from the vast time he spends out due to injury to his lack of vocal presence, and even his lack of effort to promote the Clippers’ brand. With knowledge of all of this, he still commands and receives top dollar for his services when he does play.
News of Leonard being investigated this past off-season for being paid under the table by entities with connections to the Clippers organization already came off as damning. The Clippers have been trying to restore their image by cultivating a winning culture after the dismissal of infamous former owner Donald Sterling in 2014. Sterling was banished from the NBA after being caught on tape using racist rhetoric. Sterling was also known to engage in horrible business practices in real estate. So, when Steve Ballmer, a former CEO of Microsoft, bought the team in 2014 for $2 billion, it was assumed the organization would be run much better.
A new day in L.A.
In some respects, Ballmer has been a stand-up owner. He has truly invested in the team. He finally moved from the former STAPLES Center to Inglewood at the Clippers’ own arena, the Intuit Dome. He has shown a desire and intention to spend whatever it takes to get top talent to his team. However, the personnel that Ballmer has chosen to employ are clearly questionable. To pair with Leonard, for instance, he signed Paul George at Leonard’s demanding request. Both superstar talents are still known for being injury-prone. So, to any fan of basketball, we knew that deep playoff runs couldn’t be in the team’s future.
When that project no longer served the team, they eventually signed James Harden to play alongside Leonard. They play off each other rather well. But in seasons where Harden has actually been available to play, Leonard hasn’t. This again puts a ceiling on the success the Clippers could achieve.
As we fast-forward to this past week, the dismissal of Chris Paul was disheartening. Paul is arguably the most essential player in the organization’s history. The organization cites him as not being a good fit for this team. Vague language to describe the relationship between the two, even though Paul spent a chunk of his career with them. One could surmise that they knew what to expect with him.
The pot calling the kettle
Instead, we’re left with anonymous accounts of players like James Harden, who never co-signed Paul’s return anyway. Those two, for instance, were teammates on the Houston Rockets and clashed at times. But if Paul’s vocality was the issue, then it’s a shame. Even if his skills are diminished at this stage, demanding more from a team that boasts a 6-16 record this season is apropos. It’s necessary, more importantly. For a player like Paul, whose effort has never been in question, it’s upsetting to hear Harden say he doesn’t want him around.
Conversely, Harden’s effort is always in question in the back of our minds. He has made a career of pouting and putting in less effort once he’s no longer on a team. It happened in Houston, in Brooklyn, and in Philadelphia. Now he’s in the worst scenario in L.A. The irony writes itself. With a reputation that precedes him now, we’re told Paul is pushing the team too hard. He’s imploring them to play differently. All the while, he isn’t getting minutes, and the Clippers are still losing.
What’s clear is that Paul isn’t the reason for the Clippers’ woes. If we look at it with a broader scope, the Clippers have shot themselves in the foot. They signed Leonard. The same goes with Harden as well. Their brass saw fit to align Leonard with Aspiration Partners, which, so far, has mightily backfired.
The Clippers are not box office
Unfortunately, the optics of all of this aren’t the glitziest billboard for your team. I’m not sure how many teams will align with an organization that would seek to sully your illustrious legacy, because their egos can’t handle a legend holding them to account. It’s a laughable way to conduct business with your former franchise player. It’s a black eye on the organization that has been trying to rehab its image. And it especially sucks because, low-key, like Tyra Banks, a lot of us were rooting for them.