LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center on Mar 21, 2026.
It’s been more than a month since the Los Angeles Clippers traded veterans James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the NBA trade deadline in February. In addition to losing the duo’s talent on the court, the trades left the Clippers without two of the team’s biggest leaders.
Advertisement
Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard is known for his more quiet personality. But since the Harden and Zubac trades, Leonard has stepped into a larger leadership role to fill the voids left by the pair.
“I think this year, the difference is, with James and Zu being gone, he understands that he has to speak up a little bit more,” Clippers guard Kris Dunn said of Leonard, per The Athletic’s Law Murray. “We got a lot of young guys that are playing, and he’s been doing a phenomenal job with it. He’s speaking a lot more. As everybody knows, he’s a quiet person. But at the same time, he is not.”
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center on Mar 21, 2026.
Young Clippers Look Up to the Future Hall of Famer
Leonard is a two-time NBA champion and won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in both of those championship runs. The seven-time All-Star’s experience makes him the perfect leader for some of the Clippers’ younger players.
Advertisement
One of those players is 23-year-old guard Bennedict Mathurin.
Back in February, shortly after the Clippers traded Harden and Zubac, Leonard gave some advice to Mathurin after he missed what could have been a game-winning shot for Los Angeles against the Orlando Magic.
“They understand he’s a Hall of Famer,” Dunn said to The Athletic about Leonard. “The first thing (Leonard) told (Mathurin) was, ‘Yo, you’re good! This is part of your growth.’ And to see something like that from a Hall of Famer, somebody who’s playing at an exceptional level this year, to be able to give Benn that type of confidence to let him know don’t worry about it, that shot is gonna come again, you’ll be prepared … I thought it was major.
“And that shows the step right there. Like, OK, he’s taking another step in the leadership role.”
Advertisement
Leonard’s leadership has been huge for helping the Clippers overcome a disappointing 6-21 start to the season. Now, Los Angeles ranks eight in the Western Conference with a 37-26 record and has clinched a play-in position for the NBA playoffs.
Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images