The Los Angeles Clippers are entering 2026 with a positive trajectory after a rough start to the season. Thanks to the heroics of Kawhi Leonard, the Clips have reeled off six straight wins, including a double-digit victory over the Utah Jazz on New Year’s Day, to improve to 12-21.
Leonard and Co. still have plenty of work to do to get out of play-in position. So, in the spirit of improvement, the two-time NBA champion shared a New Year’s resolution for teammate James Harden. It had nothing to do with basketball, however, and instead shed light into Leonard’s dry humor.
“I want to see if [Harden] can eat food without getting it in his beard all year,” Leonard said in a video the Clippers showed on their video board.
10 out of 10, no notes, Kawhi. Well done.
The levity is welcome in Los Angeles amid what’s been a turbulent year on and off the court. Leonard and the Clippers have been dogged by rumors of cap circumvention, Chris Paul was dismissed during his last NBA season, and the team lost 21 of its first 27 games.
For a Clippers team with title aspirations (pun intended), 2026 is already a step in the right direction.