Is Kawhi Leonard Back For The Clippers?: Improved defence, struggling offence, still a surprise for the West?
- Latrell Oscar
- Jan 3
- 3 min read
On Friday, December 27, various sources indicated that Kawhi Leonard would be targeting a long-awaited return to basketball early in the new year on January 4. The two-time NBA champion has been out of action since March of last year due to inflammation in his right knee.
This inflammatory issue is just one of a series that began when Leonard suffered a partial tear of his right ACL. The tear took place during Game 4 of the 2021 Western Conference Semifinals against the Utah Jazz.
Now, we are 34 games into the 2024/2025 regular season and Leonard is yet to make an on-court appearance. However, if the targeted date for his return is to be met, then the return of The Klaw is imminent, which could completely shake up The Western Conference.
When it was made official that Kawhi Leonard would be unavailable for the start of the new NBA season, fans and analysts found it hard to envision a scenario where the Los Angeles Clippers would not be at the bottom of the Western Conference.
After losing Paul George in free agency to The Philadelphia 76ers for nothing, it became general consensus that the Clippers would be entirely out of the playoff picture. However, after moving into their new stadium “The Intuit Dome,” in the summer, the Clippers have begun the season strong and surged to a 19-15 record. Their current record means they are just one game behind the fourth seed in the conference standings.
Tomorrow night, Kawhi Leonard will make his return to play at The Intuit Dome for the first time when the Clippers host The Atlanta Hawks. The returning two-time Finals MVP will be returning to a team that already holds the fifth best defensive rating in the NBA. For the Clippers, defence has been the story of their success.
In the offseason, assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy was added to the Clippers coaching staff. When Norman Powell was asked about the influence of Van Gundy on ESPN, he stated: “His energy and passion, especially controlling the defense, I think it rejuvenated us in the way we approach the game.” Van Gundy, known for his defensive structure and coaching, has elevated the Clippers’ defence from last season where they ranked 16th among teams.
Jeff Van Gundy was not the only addition that has helped improve the team’s defence as the Clippers also signed Derrick Jones Jr., re-signed Nicolas Batum and traded for Kris Dunn. These three signings along with the Clippers’ coaching has allowed the team to almost defy the odds. With the long awaited return of Kawhi Leonard imminent, there is real belief that the Clippers could make a surprise push in the Western Conference.
As of right now, the Clippers hold the 23rd offensive rating in the league, a vast contrast to their defensive rating. It has become evident that although their defence has improved massively, their offence has taken a hit with both Kawhi Leonard’s unavailability and Paul George’s exit.
Despite this, the fact that the Clippers still remain in the thick of the playoff picture means that there is still hope for when Kawhi is back. During the previous regular season, Leonard averaged 24 points a game which was the 18th best in the entire league. Whilst scoring 24 points a night, the now 33-year-old was shooting 53% from the field, 42% from beyond the arc and 89% from the free throw line. The return of such an offensive weapon should help revitalise a lacklustre Clippers offence and potentially surprise some teams moving forward. When discussing the Clippers’ potential heading into the 2024/2025 season, owner Steve Ballmer said [on ESPN]: “I like what we’ve got… We think we can really surprise some folks.”
Kawhi Leonard is already recognised as a talented defender in the league, so his return should only make the squad even better in that regard. With the help of a returning Kawhi Leonard and an improved offence, it is genuinely possible that the Los Angeles Clippers could make a deep playoff run even though nobody is expecting it.
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