Have Injuries Crippled the Los Angeles Clippers’ Culture?
When the Clippers brought in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George ahead of the 2019-20 season, expectations were high.
The ‘Lob City’ era of the 2010s had come and gone, with no real accomplishments to boast of. It seemed as if the Clippers were destined for heartbreak every year and it became clear the famed ‘Lob City’ core couldn’t bring the team a championship.
But Steve Ballmer and the Clippers front office knew fans couldn’t endure another rebuild, especially considering how close they had gotten to a title. So the team went out and retooled by bringing in Leonard and George. The Clippers immediately became favorites in the West and things were looking up for the franchise. However, it’s been far from smooth sailing for this Clippers team.
So, why has such a star-studded team been unable to make a serious playoff run? Well, as one NBA executive put it, it’s simply due to injuries and the impact it’s had on the team’s culture, specifically regarding Leonard and George.
“I’m not sure what they can do,” the NBA executive told Bleacher Report. “They’re not going to get value for those guys (Leonard, George) in any sort of deals. They just miss too many games, and that’s ruined the culture. It’s ruined the culture of the Clippers. Not knowing from night to night if you’re going to have PG or Kawhi just killed them. They didn’t know who was playing on any given night. It’s a train wreck. They’ve got some really good character guys on their team, but the culture is bad.”
It may be harsh, but when looking back at the history of this team you can’t help but believe it’s true. During the team’s first season with Leonard and George, the Clippers made it to the Western Conference semifinals, only to lose to the Nuggets in seven games. It wasn’t the ideal outcome but it gave Clippers fans something to look forward to.
The following season, L.A. matched up with the Suns in the Western Conference finals. While George played the entire series, Leonard sat out with a torn ACL, which he injured in the previous series. The Suns ended up winning in six games, but with a healthy Leonard, it’s very likely the Clippers win that series.
The year after (2021-22) is when it really started to go downhill. Leonard missed the entire season with his ACL injury, while George was only played 31 games. The pair’s absences precipitated a dismal 42-40 record, which saw the Clippers fail to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Which brings us to the 2022-23 campaign, which, unfortunately, was more of the same for the franchise. The Clippers’ 44-38 record saw them earn the fifth-seed and a date with the Suns once again. But an injury to George would sideline him for the entire series, in turn dwindling the team’s chances. To the Clippers’ credit, they stayed in the series with no George and looked like they could win it. Then, the injury plague struck once again as Leonard suffered a torn meniscus, which ruled him out after only two games.
It was the fatal blow for a Clippers team that was already against the ropes. Once again, another season ended early in large part due to injuries to its star players. It’s clear that injuries have prevented this Clippers team from reaching its full potential, but I don’t think it’s going to get any better anytime soon.
Los Angeles is locked up for at least the next couple of years with both Leonard and George — both at $45.6 million — meaning there isn’t a lot they can do with the current roster. Both players are also not getting any younger, making the probability of injury even higher. I mean, maybe these two actually stay healthy and take the Clippers to the promise land — but I very much doubt it.
The window for this Clippers team is once again closing and yet another rebuild may be around the corner. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can’t have amazing trade value right now, so I guess the Clippers just have to hope they can stay healthy.
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