LOS ANGELES — Thursday night delivered the kind of moment the Los Angeles Clippers had envisioned for nearly a decade: a roaring, sold-out arena celebrating the franchise’s first playoff win in its own building.
Now leading Denver 2-1 in their first-round series, the Clippers are suddenly looking like a title contender—one no one saw coming.
At the heart of this unexpected rise? A Kawhi Leonard renaissance few believed was possible.
In recent weeks, Leonard has resembled the elite two-way force the Clippers thought they’d signed back in 2019, just weeks after he claimed his second NBA Finals MVP. But that was six years ago—an eternity in a league where championship windows are fleeting.
“The best thing for him was taking the summer off and getting right,” said an executive from a rival team. “He just looks so much lighter, moving so much better. It’s incredible.”
Leonard has shown flashes of dominance before—in 2021, he was peaking during a second-round matchup against Utah when a seemingly minor bump from Joe Ingles derailed everything. That injury required knee surgery and cost him the rest of that postseason and the entire following year.
The pattern repeated itself in 2023 and 2024: promising playoff starts, derailed by injuries. From strains to full ligament tears, Leonard’s health became so unreliable that by last summer, some executives believed his trade value had plummeted to zero.
This season began with little fanfare. George had left in free agency, expectations were low, and oddsmakers pegged the Clippers at just 35.5 wins. Leonard didn’t even make his season debut until January.
And yet, they won 50 games—18 of them in their final 21. Leonard, down the stretch, averaged 25.7 points on 52% shooting, including 42% from deep.
Still, around the league, there’s an unspoken tension whenever Leonard logs big minutes. Can he stay healthy?
“If you’ve followed Kawhi closely, you know what he’s capable of,” said filmmaker and longtime Clippers fan Phil Lord. “His elite work ethic has brought him back to elite play. But I never want to see Joe Ingles near him again.”
Leonard has already delivered playoff fireworks—39 points on just four missed shots in Game 2, followed by 21 points and 11 rebounds in Game 3. “This is what Kawhi lives for,” said head coach Tyronn Lue. “With a healthy Kawhi, we can win any series.”
Leonard wasn’t surprised. After last season’s injury, he spoke often about a two-year recovery plan and his refusal to “skip steps.”
“Anybody in the business knows how hard it is to come back from this stuff,” Leonard said postgame. “They know what we go through.”
As someone who covered Leonard’s every move during his first five years with the Clippers, I’ve never seen a more meticulous player. His pregame routine—same drills, same pace, same coaches—never changed. And yet, his availability always did.
That inconsistency led some to question his drive. But Clint Parks, who trained Leonard in his teens and early pro years, says the critics never understood what drives him.
“His belief in himself has always been unreal,” Parks said. “He’s been this focused since he was 14. He told me then he wanted to be one of the greatest ever.”
“Even with the injuries, if he can bring a title to the Clippers, he’s still top 10 all-time. That’s just who he is.”
The last two seasons had offered glimpses of vintage Kawhi—All-Star brilliance, two-way dominance, elite shooting. But both ended in heartbreak: an early exit after shining against Phoenix in 2023, and a hobbled playoff loss to Dallas in 2024.
“The vibe around the league last year,” said one exec, “was just like, ‘Here we go again.’”
Leonard’s minutes were tightly managed this year. It took a month to reach 30 minutes a night. By March, he was playing 40. And now? In the playoffs, he’s blowing away expectations.
“He looks like the best player in the world again,” said Parks.
