Kawhi Leonard issues deadpan response on leading Clippers without Paul George: "Same like it was last year"
For the first time since 2019, Kawhi Leonard will head into his season with the LA Clippers without Paul George. The “Claw” agreed to take his talents to Hollywood that summer if the Clippers could trade for “PG-13,” who was then with the OKC Thunder. LA gave up a haul headlined by current Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to pair Leonard and George under coach Doc Rivers.
The superstar partnership ended in a whimper in Game 6 of the first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks last season. Leonard could only watch from the sidelines due to an inflamed right knee. George played 42 minutes but ended with 18 points on 6-for-18 shooting, including 2-10 from deep.
While Kawhi Leonard had already signed a three-year, $149.5 million contract in January, Paul George couldn’t get the same. The Clippers announced they were parting ways with “Playoff P” after admitting “a significant gap” in their discussions.
Leonard, who is with Team USA preparing for the Olympics, had this to say about leading the Clippers without George next season:
“How much will be on me to lead the team? The same like it was last year. It don’t change.”
Kawhi Leonard’s leadership is underrated, according to his coach Ty Lue and many of his Clippers teammates. Although he hardly talks, his example pushes the team to do the same. Leonard’s business-like approach has been instrumental in their limited success.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP played 68 games last season, the most since his 2016-17 campaign with the Spurs. But when it mattered most, his health became a problem again for the second straight playoffs.
Leonard has played just two postseason games over the last two years due to an oft-injured right knee.
Clippers to ask more from James Harden and Russell Westbrook to support Kawhi Leonard
James Harden and Russell Westbrook will be asked to take up the slack following Paul George’s departure in free agency. George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season. Between the former MVPs, the LA Clippers are hoping they can combine to get that kind of production.
Without George, though, LA lost its second-best two-way player. Outside of Kawhi Leonard, nobody on the roster has the same impact on both ends of the floor as “PG-13.”
Leonard is business as usual for next season regarding his leadership, but the Clippers badly need James Harden and Russell Westbrook to step up. What the Harden-Westbrook duo can bring, however, may not be enough if Leonard’s knees falter again.