The 2024-25 Los Angeles Clippers season was a testament to resilience, defying low expectations with a 50-win campaign and a playoff berth in their inaugural season at the Intuit Dome. However, persistent injury issues and a crushing first-round playoff exit highlighted ongoing challenges.
The Good
Defying Expectations with 50 Wins:
Despite losing Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers and Russell Westbrook to the Denver Nuggets in the offseason, and with Kawhi Leonard missing the first 34 games due to a right knee injury, the Clippers finished 50-32, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference. This surpassed preseason projections of fewer than 36 wins.
James Harden’s Floor-Raising Leadership:
Harden, at 35, proved doubters wrong by carrying the offensive load in Leonard’s absence, earning an All-Star nod. He averaged 18.7 points and 13 assists in the playoffs, with a 39-point, 11-assist, 9-rebound performance against Denver on December 1. His 55.6% true shooting percentage, despite a 37.9% field goal percentage, reflected his efficiency via threes (33.8% on 8.4 attempts) and free throws (89.6% on 8.2 attempts).
Kawhi Leonard’s Return and Impact:
Leonard returned in January 2025 after missing 34 games, transforming the Clippers into an elite team. Over their last 21 games, they had the league’s No. 1 offense (123.6 points per 100 possessions) with Leonard on the floor, averaging 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 54/41/78 shooting splits (63% true shooting) in the playoffs. His 33-point, 13-for-20 performance in an overtime win at Golden State highlighted his two-way dominance.
Leonard’s presence elevated the team’s net rating to +4.9 (fifth in the NBA), making them a dangerous lower seed akin to the 2023 Heat or 2024 Mavericks.
Elite Defense Under Ty Lue and Jeff Van Gundy:
The Clippers boasted the league’s third-best defense (DRTG not specified but noted as top-tier), with Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. anchoring the perimeter. Dunn, described as a “demon on the ball,” led with high turnover-forcing rates without overgambling, while Jones Jr. provided consistent wing defense and lob finishes. The addition of Jeff Van Gundy as an assistant coach bolstered their defensive schemes.
They were the third-best home team, outscoring opponents by 9.8 points per 100 possessions at Intuit Dome, winning 13 of their last 14 home games.
Breakout Performances from Role Players:
Ivica Zubac emerged as a reliable two-way center, with a strong rapport with Harden (third-most assists from Harden last season). His rim protection and finishing led to a +12.8 on-off differential, fourth-best in the NBA.
Norman Powell stepped up as a top scorer, averaging over 20 points per game in the playoffs alongside Harden and Leonard.
Successful Move to Intuit Dome:
The Clippers’ transition to the new Intuit Dome was a triumph, with fans celebrating the “joy and excitement” of the inaugural season. Harden’s 50-point game and Leonard’s game-winning buzzer-beater marked historic moments at the new arena, contributing to only the seventh 50-win season in franchise history.
Smart Roster Moves and Flexibility:
The Clippers replaced George with defensive-minded players like Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, and Nicolas Batum, maintaining competitiveness. The trade of Terance Mann and Bones Hyland for Bogdan Bogdanović at the deadline, while controversial, added shooting, and the team gained two net second-round picks, increasing future flexibility.
Team Chemistry and Enjoyable Play:
Despite roster turnover, the Clippers played with cohesion and fun, this is “one of the most enjoyable seasons” for the fanbase. Their ability to rally from a 0-4 start at Intuit Dome and a 15-12 record by Christmas underscored their resilience.
The Bad
First-Round Playoff Exit:
The Clippers lost 4-3 to the Denver Nuggets in the first round, with a devastating 120-101 Game 7 loss on May 3, 2025. Despite leading early, they were outscored 35-19 in the third quarter, with garbage time starting early. Nikola Jokić’s dominance (24.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 2.3 steals per game) and Russell Westbrook’s strong play against his former team (16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals in Game 7) exposed the Clippers’ inability to close.
Kawhi Leonard’s Injury Absence:
Leonard’s chronic right knee issues sidelined him for the first 34 games, forcing the team to rely heavily on Harden. His history of missing playoff games (only 2 games played in 2024 playoffs) continued to haunt the Clippers.
Loss of Paul George and Westbrook:
Paul George’s departure to Philadelphia and Westbrook’s move to Denver left the Clippers without two All-Stars, weakening their star power. George’s absence was felt in the playoffs, where his hypothetical presence (had he accepted a reported three-year, $150M offer) could have provided clutch scoring. Westbrook’s revenge performances against the Clippers in the playoffs underscored the loss.
James Harden’s Playoff Inconsistency:
Despite a strong series, Harden’s Game 7 dud (7 points on 2-of-8 shooting) was a glaring low point, with Denver’s Christian Braun neutralizing him. Analysts criticized Harden’s history of “single-game duds” in the playoffs, noting his inability to deliver momentum-breaking shots when needed.
Kevin Porter Jr.’s Disappointing Performance:
Kevin Porter Jr. was a major letdown, ranking 190th out of 192 qualified players in true shooting percentage. His overdribbling and poor decision-making led to inefficient scoring (D+ grade), and analysts questioned why he remained in the rotation over Bones Hyland, whose 18 three-pointers in 104 minutes outshone Porter’s output.
Lack of Frontcourt Depth:
Beyond Zubac, the Clippers’ frontcourt was thin, with injuries exposing their reliance on him. They gave up high offensive rebound percentages in key games, a weakness Denver exploited in the playoffs.
Early Season Struggles at Intuit Dome:
The Clippers started 0-4 at their new home arena, including a 116-113 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns in the season opener. This slow start, combined with a 9th-toughest schedule and numerous back-to-backs, put them in an early hole at 15-12 by Christmas.
Missed Championship Expectations:
Despite their 50 wins, the Clippers were seen as a “patchwork pretender” by some analysts, with their title window questioned due to Leonard’s injuries and Harden’s aging (36 by next season). The $86 million owed to Leonard and Harden for 2025-26, combined with OKC owning their draft picks, limits future upside if the core underperforms.
