Latest news with #Kawhi
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ivica Zubac reflects on breakout year, Jokic battles, and more in Basketball Network exclusive
Ivica Zubac just wrapped up the best season of his NBA career — one where he broke personal records, logged heavy minutes, and held his own against the league's elite bigs. The Los Angeles Clippers' center finished second in Most Improved Player voting, came in sixth in Defensive Player of the Year and quietly led the entire NBA in both total offensive and defensive rebounds, all while averaging career-best 16.8 points on an elite efficiency. In an exclusive conversation with Basketball Network, "Big Zu" opened up about the team's underdog mentality coming into the season, playing alongside James Harden and going toe-to-toe with Nikola Jokic, whom he believes is the best player in the Association. Advertisement Oh, and he let us in on a not-so-secret truth — Lakers fans still haven't forgiven their front office for letting him go so easily. Q: At the start of the season, many people had the Clippers as a play-in team at best. Paul George was gone in the offseason, Kawhi Leonard's availability was uncertain, and James Harden's MVP days seemed behind him. From the inside, how did you guys experience that perception? Did you feel underrated? Absolutely. I mean, come on, everyone sees social media, everyone knows the narrative around us. We saw how many projected wins they gave us. We were aware of it. People overlooked us, no doubt about that. It was definitely a motivation for us. We knew we could be a good team based on our roster and the players we had. However, we didn't expect Kawhi to miss that many games early on — we thought he'd be back sooner. Advertisement But from day one of training camp, we built a defense-first mentality. We knew we had to be aggressive on defense and become one of the best defensive teams if we wanted a shot at the playoffs. That mindset carried us. On top of that, we had the extra motivation of being underestimated by pretty much everyone. And deep down, we knew we had more talent and quality than people gave us credit for. Everything clicked, and in the end, the regular season turned out to be a success — 50 wins. Not many people saw that coming, especially considering Kawhi missed around 40 games. So yeah, I'd say the regular season was a success. Q: It was indeed a success, both for the team and for you personally. This is now your second season playing alongside Harden — what's it like playing with a player of that caliber, and how has he made your job on the court easier? Especially with those pick-and-rolls that you worked to perfection. A lot. I've never had a point guard who's so pass-first. I mean, Harden is more known as a scorer, but at this stage of his career, he's really focused on being a playmaker — getting everyone involved and making things easier for the whole team. Advertisement From day one, when he joined us, he'd pull me aside and say, "Come on, let's go do 20 minutes of pick-and-roll against the coaches, just 2-on-2." They'd switch up coverages — sometimes trap, sometimes hedge, drop, or switch. We'd read the defense and play against it. And we did that every day for 15–20 minutes. You could see the results in the games — we had answers for any kind of defense thrown at us. We were ready for everything. Beyond just the pick-and-roll, he knows exactly where I like to get the ball — which side of the post, that pocket pass — he finds me there. He watches a lot of film, and he knows every guy's preferences: where they like to get the ball, what kinds of shots they're comfortable with, which defenses they excel against. That's what he brings us more than anything. That might be his most valuable trait. He's incredibly smart, understands what works for each player, and tries to simplify the game for everyone around him. Q: At first glance, he might come off as nonchalant, but whenever someone talks about Harden, it's nothing but flowers for the former MVP. Yeah, yeah, before he joined us, there was a lot of talk that he wasn't a hard worker, that he was a bad teammate — but it's actually the complete opposite. I can't believe that's what people were saying. He's the total opposite. A hard worker, one of the best teammates I've ever had, and it's a joy to play with him and share a locker room. Advertisement Q: This season was the first time you played over 30 minutes per game (32.8). Was that mainly due to injuries and a lack of available players, or did Ty Lue and his coaching staff let you know before the season that it was going to be that way? They had already signaled that back in last year's playoffs, when I started playing over 30 minutes and the offense began running through me more. For the first time, they really went to me in the post, and that's when it became clear my role would grow. After the season ended, the GM, the team president, and Ty Lue all told me the same thing — that I'd have a bigger role, that I should prepare for it and be ready. And when we didn't re-sign Paul George, it really opened up opportunities for other guys to step up. I mean, you have to make up for the 25 points he was putting up, and that gave the rest of us more shots, more responsibility. I knew going into the summer that the situation would be like that. So I prepared accordingly — I worked all summer on my post game, knowing I'd be getting a lot of touches down low, and I focused a lot on conditioning and strength training because I knew I'd be playing a lot more minutes than in previous years. Q: At what point, when you entered this season with the expectation of stepping into somewhat of a leadership role, did you realize you were having the best season of your career — not just a very good stretch — but that you were actually one of the most consistent and best centers in the league? From the very first game, I could feel things were going to be different — that I'd be getting more touches. I opened the season with three straight 20-point games, and that was the first time in my life I started a season like that. That's when I realized things had shifted, that I was going to have more opportunities. Advertisement I understood that with those minutes and that many low-post touches, plus more shot attempts, I had to fully commit to recovery and strength to survive the entire season. I really focused on that. You go through stretches where you're so exhausted you don't even care who you're playing against or what's going on—you just want to finish the game. So, I felt early on that it was going to be different after those first three games, and from that point, I completely changed my mentality and some of my habits to adapt and handle the pace. Q: It was clear from the start, and by the end, in a way, that recognition came too. You finished second in the Most Improved Player race, sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and there was even talk about your first All-Star nod. Yeah, I hoped I would win it (MIP). After the All-Star break, when I got that week off, I caught a bit of a second wind. I felt better physically, and that's when I was able to take another step and elevate my game to a new level. Q: Just like the entire Clippers team, it felt like you guys shifted into a higher gear after the All-Star break and started building momentum for the playoffs. Yeah, in those last 20 to 25 games, we really looked good. It could've ended better, but hey... that's how it goes sometimes. Advertisement Q: At the trade deadline Bogdan Bogdanovic came in — one of the guys from the same region as you, from the Balkans. On social media, it looked like you two really clicked. What was the dynamic like when he arrived? Bogi was great for us. As soon as the trade happened, he messaged me on Instagram, like, "Send me your number." He reached out right away. When he got to L.A., we went out for a drink immediately… We didn't really know each other that well before; we weren't close or anything, but we slowly became really good friends. We hang out every day — sometimes at his place, sometimes at mine. On the road, we were always together, going to restaurants, spending time — we really did spend a lot of time together. And we had good chemistry on the court, too, even though we had never played together before. We understood each other's game well. The Clippers didn't just use him as a shooter — he handled the ball a lot in pick-and-rolls, and that's where we really clicked. It felt like we had been playing together forever. He gave me a lot of confidence, and I think I did the same for him. It's tough when you're the only guy from your part of the world, surrounded by all foreigners, without someone who speaks your language. It's just different when you can sit on the bench with someone, vent in your own language, and get real feedback from someone who gets it. He helped me a lot, and I'm sure it was good for him too. I'd really love for that to continue. Advertisement He's a great guy, and the vibe around the team really lifted when he arrived — he was truly great for us. I hope we can keep that going next year as well. Q: He definitely brought a lot to the team, and for you personally… I mean, he "gave you" your first career triple-double against Houston. What was that feeling like? Was it planned for him to finish the play with that shot? We were up by a lot, I already had nine assists, and there were about two minutes left when Ty Lue wanted to sub me out. And that's when I told him, me and whole bench stood up, "Let him get the triple-double." Normally, he doesn't like doing that. Earlier this season, against the Lakers, he benched me when I had 21 points and 19 rebounds. I asked him if I could stay to get one more rebound, but he didn't want to, so he gave me this one as a reward. Advertisement We ran a play for me to post up because they were double-teaming me, so I could kick the ball out to someone and get an assist. But the Rockets threw the ball away, it went out of bounds, and I told Bogi, "Bogi, I'll give you the ball, just shoot it no matter what, try to score, but just shoot it..." We had players on the court who don't usually play. They were cold since they just came in. I said, "I'm giving you the ball, just shoot and see what happens." He set a screen for me so I could grab the ball out of bounds and then came back. I handed him the ball, he rose up over the defense, everyone knew he was going to shoot — it was a really tough shot. The ball spun around the rim and somehow went in. I was really happy. I never expected to get a triple-double, but I'm really glad I did, and that last assist was for him. He made that shot. I even have the game ball engraved... One of the best moments of this season for sure. Q: There's one player who normalized the triple-double from the center position. Let's touch on that bitter part of the season — what was it like playing a seven-game series against Nikola Jokic? Knowing everything would go through him, how hard was that night after night? It's tough. Especially when you're playing 35-40 minutes in the playoffs, when the game slows down, and most of the game is half-court basketball instead of transition. You know everything's going to go through him even more than usual, and that's seven games. Honestly, it was really hard. In my opinion, he's the best player in the league, and every possession, every defensive play, you have to give 100%. Advertisement He's very strong, so it's physically demanding. You go through defensive challenges that no other center usually faces. He handles the ball in pick-and-rolls, they set pindowns for him, flare screens, he plays in the post, works from the elbow, and even 1-on-1 from the free-throw line. You really face a million things that centers normally don't have to deal with. You have to completely change your mindset and philosophy about how you defend as a center, just to try to contain him. So it's both physically and mentally very demanding. You can't relax for a second, you always have to think ahead. You know every play, you know what's coming, and you have to be ready for everything. It's really tough. Q: So, he's definitely the hardest player for you to guard? Yeah, definitely... As a center, yes. I don't count guards because I don't usually switch onto them — that's a different story — but as a center, he's definitely the hardest to defend. Because he really puts you through things you don't face against anyone else. The defensive rules against him are completely different. Q: That series against the Nuggets was a war. What do you feel was the deciding factor in those series? Was it the Aaron Gordon's put back dunk? Well, I think that's it. We were up 2-1, and I think that game was the turning point because we really started that game poorly. After the third game, there was a lot in the media, their players said they were injured and having problems, and that's when we saw we had to come out strong because they looked ready to give up... Advertisement They took a 22-point lead, but we came back. If the game had lasted maybe a minute longer, I think we would have definitely won, but unfortunately, a fraction of a second kept us from overtime. When they won that game, it gave them confidence, a boost of momentum, and everything changed. It's a shame — that was our best chance in Game 4 to break the series. Q: Where do you place Jokic on the all-time list of players and centers? Hmm, it's hard to say. I've never played against those other guys we usually count among the top 5 centers — like Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem... Considering everything Jokic has achieved — a championship, three MVPs, Finals MVP, so many All-Star appearances, First Team, All-NBA selections — I think he's definitely in the top 5 centers, maybe even higher. Advertisement I wouldn't dare rank him among the greatest players ever just yet, because he's still in his prime, has a lot of basketball left to play, and will win many more awards and honors. So maybe I'll be ready to do that at the end of his career. But for sure, he's already top 5 among centers. Q: Since we're on the topic of individual awards, who do you think will win the MVP — Shai or Jokic? I think Shai will take it this year, but I'd vote for Jokic. I believe Jokic had the better individual season, though Shai is really an excellent player. I played with him during his first year with the Clippers, so I'd be happy for him if he wins, but individually, I think Jokic had the stronger season. Who votes, I don't know how that will go… The whole season, there's been talk about Shai. It wouldn't be wrong if either of them wins — both deserve it. I'd definitely give my vote to Jokic. We'll see, but I think in the end it'll be Shai. Advertisement Q: Since we're talking about those first years with the Clippers, do you think the Lakers regret giving up a center like you? Because it seems like you are exactly the type of player they're missing right now. I know the fans definitely regret it... Every day when I go out, at least once a day, I hear about that trade and Mike Muscala... This is Lakers city and most people here are Lakers fans, so I hear about that trade every day. How they wish I was still on the team, how I'd be perfect for them now since they don't have a center. But for me, it worked out well. Back then, I didn't play much there, I didn't have much of a role, and then I got a much bigger role — I was a starter from the start with the Clippers. So in the end, it turned out great for me. Whether the club regrets it now, I don't know, but I do know the fans do. Q: Hardly anyone predicted this kind of playoff scenario in the NBA, but now that only four teams remain, who do you see as the winner? From the regular season, I really liked Indiana. The way they played, and they actually beat us both times we played this year — they're a really good team and well put together. I'm not sure if it's enough to win it all though... Advertisement The Knicks are good, too. They're a typical playoff team that relies on 6-7 key players — veteran playoff guys with experience. Then you have Oklahoma, which dominated most of the regular season, but Denver pushed them to seven games, so they're not unbeatable. Minnesota — I'd give them the least chance. But I don't know, I think this is the year everything has opened up for Oklahoma. They were like Boston or Cleveland during the season, out of the playoffs, and now their path to the title seems open. We'll see how they hold up after that seven-game series against the Nuggets. They're in rhythm, and that matters. If I had to pick, I'd put my money on Oklahoma. But I wouldn't be surprised if any of these teams won, and there's a reason for that. There really isn't a clear favorite. We will keep an eye on "Zu" Zubac's growth—both as a player and a leader—was one of the brightest storylines in a Clippers season full of twists and overachievement, but unfortunately, it ended in heartbreak. While individual accolades came just so close, it's clear his eyes are still locked on bigger goals. And if he keeps trending this way, there's no doubt he'll get there — we'll be watching.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA playoffs 2025: Vintage Kawhi Leonard outshines Nikola Jokić as Clippers tie series with Nuggets
DENVER — The Denver Nuggets are on notice. Vintage Kawhi Leonard is back. And he led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 105-102 Game 2 victory over the Nuggets on Monday to tie the first-round playoff series at 1-1. The Clippers surged into the No. 5 seed, thanks to an 18-3 finish in the regular season sparked by a resurgent Leonard, whose Clippers tenure is so far known more for his injuries than any winning of significance. Leonard turned it up another notch Monday night in a performance reminiscent of his 2019 playoff run with the Toronto Raptors that ended with an NBA championship and his second Finals MVP trophy. In a game featuring three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, Leonard was the best player on the floor. Leonard shot 9-of-10 from the field in a scorching first half that netted 21 points, including a 3-pointer to beat the second-quarter buzzer. He continued to give the Nuggets fits and finished the game with 39 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals. He shot 15-of-19 from the field and 4-of-7 from 3. He hit a jumper that extended the Clippers' lead to the final margin in the final minute, then came up with a steal on Denver's next possession. The Nuggets threw multiple defenders at Leonard, including Jamal Murray, Christian Braun and Michael Porter Jr. None was able to slow the six-time All-Star who repeatedly scored at will from 3 and from midrange over helpless defenders. 'This is what Kawhi lives for," head coach Tyronn Lue said after the game. "He's gonna try to get to the point where he's healthy for the playoffs. We know if we've got healthy Kawhi, we can win the series. And it just shows you what he's capable of doing." Leonard joined the Clippers alongside Paul George in 2019 to much fanfare, fresh off his second NBA championship. Playing alongside another two-way All-Star in George, Leonard was expected to once and for all lift a Clippers team that's never been to the NBA Finals into championship contention. The Clippers advanced to the Western Conference finals in Leonard's second season in Los Angeles in 2021. But they haven't advanced out of the first round since. And Leonard was limited to just four games in the previous two postseasons due to multiple injuries. Leonard's career has been intertwined with significant injuries since his exit from the San Antonio Spurs. And fair or not, he and his injuries have been blamed for the Clippers' playoff failures since his arrival in Los Angeles. Lue painted a different picture Monday night, crediting Leonard's dedication to his health and his recovery in leading to his performance against the Nuggets. "He's a hard worker," Lue said. "He's dedicated, like I said, to keeping his body right. Sometimes a bunch of things happen. You can't control that. It's not from a lack of work. It's not from a lack of wanting to be here. "Sometimes some bad luck hits. But he's gonna keep coming back. He's gonna get to this point like he is right now. And that's why I'm just so happy for him." James Harden, who tallied 18 points and seven assists Monday, has played with Leonard for two seasons since joining the Clippers early in the 2023-24 campaign. He joined the Clippers on the heels of Leonard's meniscus tear that sidelined him two games into a 2023 first-round series against the Suns. He played alongside Leonard through another knee injury that limited Leonard to two games against the Mavericks last postseason. He's been around Leonard through his recent rehab and recovery process. He has no doubts about Leonard's dedication to the game. "Every single day," Harden said of Leonard's work. "It's like the preparation, it's the treatment. It's the strengthening of his body. It's the correctives and then it's going on the court and putting it all together. "It's consistently every single day. Luck hasn't been on his side. ... He loves to hoop. As you see, when he's on the court, he's a killer." As for Leonard himself? He was his usual understated self after his best playoff performance in years. "I'm just happy that I'm able to move," Leonard said when asked about how he felt. "I'm coming out of the game feeling well. That's what I'm taking my pride in. Just being healthy. "I've sat and watched these playoff games and series for the past years. Being able to be on the frontline out there, it just feels good for me, whichever way the game goes. That's what I'm taking pride in, just want to be out there play and be frontline for my team." While Leonard shined, Jokić struggled to produce early in a matchup that's given him fits all season. Clippers center Ivica Zubac, who stands at 7-feet and 240 pounds, defended Jokić as well as anybody during the regular season. He continued to limit Jokić on Monday while holding the MVP finalist to eight first-half points. Jokić attempted just six field goals before halftime — five of them from 3 and the other a dunk. He didn't shoot his first free throw until the third quarter. Jokić rallied to finish with a team-high 26 points and tallied a triple-double with 12 rebounds and 10 assists. But he finished 6-of-10 from the line and turned the ball over seven times. While Jokić was limited, the Nuggets leaned on his supporting cast, including Porter, who bounced back from a 3-point performance in 26 minutes in Denver's Game 1 overtime win. Porter started hot and had six points on four field-goal attempts before taking his first break on the bench. He finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 6-of-11 from the field. He came up with multiple big buckets in the fourth quarter, including a put-back layup and a pull-up 3 that tied the game a 96-96. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, meanwhile, took on larger roles throughout the game as the Clippers made Jokić the center of their defensive attention. But in the end, Leonard's big night proved too much for the Nuggets to overcome. The Clippers, once an afterthought in the West, now have home-court advantage as the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday.
New York Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers were healthy and still couldn't get past first round. Now what?
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Knock on wood. That has been the reaction any time the topic of health was brought up around the LA Clippers in prosperous times. After all, Tyronn Lue's first four seasons as head coach of the Clippers all ended in unfortunate injury luck. Kawhi Leonard was unable to play in the elimination game in any of them, and former co-star Paul George was unavailable in the final game of the 2022 Play-In Tournament and the entire 2023 postseason. Advertisement When the Clippers were in the middle of an eight-game winning streak to end the regular season that gave them the fifth seed in this year's playoffs, Lue was asked about having a fully healthy roster heading into the postseason. 'Yeah, it means a lot,' Lue said, tapping his knuckles repeatedly on the news conference table simultaneously. 'Just starting to play our best basketball. The season's wrapping up, our guys are healthy, in a good place, feeling good. And that's the most important thing. When you get to the playoffs, the most important thing is health.' Lue got his wish. The Clippers were healthy for the first time in years. But having a healthy James Harden and Leonard wasn't enough as the Clippers fell to the Nuggets 120-101 in Saturday's Game 7. The Clippers lost three of the last four games of the series, and Harden did not meet with the media after any of those losses. It's a surprising turn of events for a Clippers team that, a little more than a week earlier, was a minute away from a 3-1 series lead. 'It's encouraging,' Lue said after the season ended Saturday night. 'I think James having to carry such a heavy load with Kawhi missing 45 games and just having to carry that load all season long, he did a great job with that. And I think Kawhi, coming back and having the confidence in his knee that he can play more minutes, he can get through these games. And those two together for a whole season, I think, would be tremendous. So when you have your best player missing (45 games), it's kind of hard to really jell the way we wanted to. But I thought we did a good job of just sticking with it. And whatever we needed to do to win that night, they did it.' Now the inaugural season at Intuit Dome is in the books after a first-round series that reinforced the fact that the Clippers likely have a hard ceiling as long as their best players are Harden and Leonard, two aging stars who are far closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. Advertisement The Clippers won 50 games this season and were still a factor in the Western Conference, but this campaign was part of an organizational plan to bridge into what is next for the franchise. Their public statement after George left to sign a maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers last summer declared that much. 'We will miss Paul. At the same time, we're excited by the opportunities we've now been afforded, including greater flexibility under the new CBA. Kawhi is an All-NBA player, and we believe T. Lue is the best coach in the league. We will field a highly competitive team this season, and moving forward, use our organizational advantages to bring top talent to Intuit Dome.' As of now, though, it seems clear that the next stage, at least in the short term, will be centered around Harden and Leonard. The Clippers are below the collective bargaining agreement's first-apron threshold and intend to remain flexible with an eye toward the next two offseasons, according to league sources. The first domino toward that is what happens with Harden, who has a player option worth $36.4 million for next season. Harden will be 36 in August, and he has enjoyed his time playing in his hometown since being brought in via an October 2023 trade. 'Hopefully I'm here for some years and retire here, so I can keep moving the needle off the court,' he said in 2024. How the Clippers retain Harden is to be determined, but he is fully expected to be back in some capacity after being named an All-Star and making the playoffs for the 16th straight year. There's a history of Harden sacrificing financially; in 2022, he declined a $47.4-million player option with the 76ers and signed a two-year deal that gave him a $35.6-million player option for the 2023-24 season so Philadelphia could sign free agents like P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr. Advertisement This season, Harden reiterated that the chemistry the Clippers built with him as the primary facilitator should progress next year, using Most Improved Player Award runner-up Ivica Zubac as an example. 'It's only been, what, almost two years?' Harden said last month while describing Zubac's progress compared to former Rockets teammate center Clint Capela. 'What I did with Clint, it was five, six years. And Zu is way more skilled offensively than Clint, you know what I mean? But the understanding of knowing what to do, each possession, whether it's a switch, whether it's a pick-and-roll… that right there is just like, chemistry that you just need time to build. 'And next year is going to be even better, to where it's like, it's gonna be flawless.' Harden's star running mate, Leonard, just played the first season of a three-year contract extension signed in January 2024 that goes through the 2026-27 season. He began sidelined to manage the right knee inflammation that ruined not only the final run with George last postseason, but also cost Leonard an Olympic gold medal. Before the All-Star break, Leonard averaged 16.3 points in 26 minutes per game. After the All-Star break, Leonard leapt to 25 points in 35.9 minutes per game. In March, he made it clear what his objective was going into the second year of that deal. 'My goal is to be healthy at the end of the season, so I can have a good summer, not worry about doing the whole rehab process again or missing a training camp,' Leonard said after his overtime buzzer-beater to beat the Sacramento Kings on March 9. That summer came earlier than Leonard had hoped. The series against the Nuggets was an opportunity for Leonard and Harden to re-establish some dominance in the postseason after the Clippers won 18 of their last 21 regular-season games and didn't lose back-to-back games for eight weeks. That re-established dominance didn't happen. To at least begin next season, the Clippers appear to be in a place of stability with the rotation of a team that surprised many by getting to 50 wins. Zubac, Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Bogdan Bogdanović are all signed for 2025-26. Powell, the team's second-leading scorer with a career-high 21.8 points per game, who was a surprising dark-horse All-Star candidate, is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $20.5 million in 2025-26 and turns 32 this month. But there should be no rush to do something with Powell, especially considering Harden's age and Leonard's durability concerns. Advertisement Batum is 36 years old and has a player option for $4.9 million, but he is highly valued by the Clippers and is expected to return; the Frenchman has a stated goal of passing former All-Star Peja Stojaković for second-most 3s by a European player, and Batum needs 11 more 3s to do so. The most notable free agents are Ben Simmons and Amir Coffey; Simmons' minutes faded as the Nuggets series went along after being the team's buyout market target, while Coffey was the odd man out of a nine-man rotation in the playoffs. Then there's Lue. Last May, the Clippers gave Lue a contract extension that goes through the 2029 season, and despite the early exit, relationships are strong among the brain trust of Lue, Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. But Lue no longer has the excuse of his Clippers playoff teams never being healthy. They were, and still are, one of six teams in the West not to win a playoff series since 2021. This was the first time Lue lost a Game 7 after starting his head-coaching career 4-0 in such spots, and the second year in a row where the season ended on Lue's birthday. Lue was recently asked why anyone would want to be a head coach after Denver fired head coach Michael Malone last month and joked that the job 'pays well.' But his perspective was telling. 'It's a tough business – it's a fun business, as long as you're winning,' Lue said last month. 'Just speaking for myself, just having a great relationship with the front office with Lawrence and (general manager) Trent (Redden), and (senior vice president) Mark (Hughes), and with our owner Mr. Ballmer. That goes a long way. It still doesn't mean that they won't make the right decision. But just having that constant dialogue, talking and understanding what each side wants and what they need and just having that relationship is really good.' Advertisement Lue pushed several correct buttons this season, one of the most important being the selection of Jeff Van Gundy as the team's de facto defensive coordinator. Lue has the respect of his stars, and the Clippers admire stable organizations that don't go about replacing coaches every two years. As disappointing as this postseason result is, Lue is seen as part of the franchise's solution, not part of a problem. The Clippers might optimize the margins of the roster going into next season. Like the 2019 offseason that led to the Clippers getting Leonard in the first place, the team might look toward 2026 when it comes to identifying the next faces of the franchise. In terms of the next championship window, that's the most sensible timeframe. Under Ballmer, and with 14 consecutive winning seasons, the Clippers won't tank or blow it up, and they're not in a position to do so anyway with their draft assets depleted and their Southern California-based stars not in a position to command a high return in the trade market. The challenge for the franchise will simply be maintaining its level of competitive achievement while being ready to make the best move for the future. And for now, that means continuing to build around Harden and Leonard. 'I mean, I don't know right now,' Leonard said Saturday night when asked about growing from this season. 'I guess we stayed playing at a high level, in a sense. But yeah, it's a hard question to answer right now.' (Top photo of Kawhi Leonard: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kawhi Leonard Fans Upset With Draymond Green's New Comments
The Golden State Warriors' first-round series against the Houston Rockets has taken a dramatic turn. After leading the series 3-1, the Warriors have now dropped two consecutive games, culminating in a 115-107 loss in Game 6 at home. This sets the stage for a decisive Game 7 in Houston. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 29 points and seven rebounds, while Jimmy Butler contributed 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Despite their efforts, the Warriors struggled with shooting efficiency and could not find their offensive rhythm, particularly in the fourth quarter, which ultimately cost them the game. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12)© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images A significant factor in the Rockets' resurgence has been the stellar play of veteran guard Fred VanVleet. In Game 6, VanVleet delivered a standout performance, scoring 29 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, while also contributing eight rebounds and eight assists. Advertisement Following the loss, Draymond Green commended VanVleet for his performance, and made reference to 2019 NBA Finals, where the 31-year-old went off against Golden State. "Fred VanVleet is the reason we lost to Toronto in the Finals. So we know what he's capable of," Green acknowledged. While VanVleet played well in that series, averaging 14.0 points per game, Kawhi Leonard was the Finals MVP. Fans feel he was disrespected by Green's comments. "Kawhi & pascal played in that series buddy," a fan wrote. "He must of forgot….." another wrote with a Leonard gif. "Actually it was Kawhi but Draymond just wanted to give the media a headline," said another. "FVV just outplayed Steph Curry but it was Kawhi they couldn't stop lol." Advertisement "Not Kawhi 'Jordan'???" asked another. As the series shifts back to Houston for Game 7, the Rockets aim to complete a rare comeback from a 3-1 deficit, a feat the franchise has achieved twice in its history. Related: Unexpected NBA Team Predicted to Land Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga Related: Jimmy Butler Sends 5-Word Dillon Brooks Message After Rockets' Loss to Warriors
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets: TV channel, time and how to watch
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets: TV channel, time and how to watch Show Caption Hide Caption Clippers vs. Nuggets: Best supporting cast For The Hoops crew analyze whether the Clippers or Nuggets have a stronger supporting cast, excluding Kawhi and Jokic. After a thrilling finish to Game 4 of their NBA playoff series, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers will return to the hardwood on Tuesday night in the Mile High City. The series is tied at two games apiece after Aaron Gordon threw down a dunk one-tenth of a second before time expired to give the Nuggets a 101-99 win in L.A. on Saturday night. Per the NBA, it was the first game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk in a playoff game in the play-by-play era (since 1998). There may also be some lingering bad blood between the teams after a scuffle at the end of the first half in Game 4 that resulted in six players receiving technical fouls. What could possibly be in store tonight? What time is Clippers vs. Nuggets? The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets will tip off at 10 p.m. ET, which is 8 p.m. in Denver. How to watch Clippers vs. Nuggets Game 5: TV, stream Stream: Sling TV, YouTube TV Time: 10 p.m. ET Location: Ball Arena; Denver, Colorado TV: TNT
