Last season, the Los Angeles Clippers got off to a surprising start. Even without Kawhi Leonard, head coach Tyronn Lue’s squad, led by All-Star James Harden, relied on defense and team chemistry to stay competitive in a stacked Western Conference. That remained the case until January 2025, when Kawhi returned from his knee issues and helped the Clippers take the next step in their season.<\/p>
With their star forward back, the team won 26 of 37 games and 15 of their last 17 heading into the playoffs, arriving as one of the hottest teams in the league.<\/p>
Finishing with a 50–32 record, the Clippers stood out for their strong defense, offensive power (driven by their two stars and key contributors like Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac), and overall roster depth. However, they drew the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets, featuring Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, who also had home-court advantage.<\/p>
Los Angeles led the series 2–1 and was in the middle of a comeback in Game 4, managing to tie the game — only to see Aaron Gordon hit an unbelievable game-winner. The series stayed tight through Game 7 in Denver, but the Nuggets dominated that final matchup to advance to the second round.<\/p>
The Clippers had an interesting offseason. First, they extended James Harden for two years and re-signed Nicolas Batum, the team’s versatile utility player, on the same term. In addition, they added two veterans on cheap contracts: Chris Paul, who joins as a backup to stabilize the second unit, and Bradley Beal, who’s expected to start alongside Harden.<\/p>
In free agency, the team also signed center Brook Lopez to back up Ivica Zubac, who was a contender for both Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player in 2024–25. Lastly, the Clippers traded for power forward John Collins, who is expected to start, helping space the floor and bolster their physical presence in the paint — one of the main weaknesses exposed in the series against Denver.<\/p>