Kawhi Leonard casually questions Clippers' contender status after All-Star break: 'I think it's over now'
Kawhi Leonard has never been one for soliloquies, so when the Los Angeles Clippers superstar speaks, the NBA world leans in. Following a thrilling 115-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets to open their post-All-Star schedule, Leonard delivered a sobering reality check that dampened the mood of the win. When asked about the Clippers' status as legitimate title contenders following a chaotic trade deadline, Leonard offered a candid, if not crushing, assessment: "I think it's over now."
The comment, delivered with Leonard’s trademark deadpan demeanor, underscores the friction between a superstar in his prime and a front office pivoting toward the future. Despite the Clippers clawing their way back from a disastrous 6-21 start to a respectable 27-28 record—fueled by a blistering 21-7 run since mid-December—management chose to sell high rather than double down. The departures of James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and anchor Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers signaled a philosophical shift that Leonard clearly recognizes.
"Just development over time," Leonard elaborated, referring to the integration of new acquisitions like Bennedict Mathurin and the currently sidelined Darius Garland. "It’s a fourth of the season left. But every day is a day to grow."
While the arrival of Mathurin, who exploded for a record-breaking 38 points in his home debut against Denver, offers a tantalizing glimpse of the Clippers' future, it does little to satisfy Leonard’s immediate championship appetite. At this stage in his career, the two-time Finals MVP is looking for banners, not "growth years." The irony is palpable: just as the Clippers looked like the dangerous, dark-horse threat no one wanted to face in the Western Conference playoffs, the organization hit the reset button.
Now sitting ninth in the West, the Clippers are technically in the thick of the Play-In race. However, Leonard’s comments suggest that while he will continue to compete, the internal belief in a 2026 championship run left the building along with Harden. For a franchise that has spent the last few years pushing all its chips into the middle, Leonard’s resignation marks the official end of the "win-now" era in Inglewood.
The comment, delivered with Leonard’s trademark deadpan demeanor, underscores the friction between a superstar in his prime and a front office pivoting toward the future. Despite the Clippers clawing their way back from a disastrous 6-21 start to a respectable 27-28 record—fueled by a blistering 21-7 run since mid-December—management chose to sell high rather than double down. The departures of James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and anchor Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers signaled a philosophical shift that Leonard clearly recognizes.
"Just development over time," Leonard elaborated, referring to the integration of new acquisitions like Bennedict Mathurin and the currently sidelined Darius Garland. "It’s a fourth of the season left. But every day is a day to grow."
While the arrival of Mathurin, who exploded for a record-breaking 38 points in his home debut against Denver, offers a tantalizing glimpse of the Clippers' future, it does little to satisfy Leonard’s immediate championship appetite. At this stage in his career, the two-time Finals MVP is looking for banners, not "growth years." The irony is palpable: just as the Clippers looked like the dangerous, dark-horse threat no one wanted to face in the Western Conference playoffs, the organization hit the reset button.
Now sitting ninth in the West, the Clippers are technically in the thick of the Play-In race. However, Leonard’s comments suggest that while he will continue to compete, the internal belief in a 2026 championship run left the building along with Harden. For a franchise that has spent the last few years pushing all its chips into the middle, Leonard’s resignation marks the official end of the "win-now" era in Inglewood.
