Entering the 2024-25 NBA season, no one quite knew what make of the LA Clippers. Losing Paul George seemed like a devastating blow, as the Clippers' roster was widely regarded as top-heavy and devoid of the necessary depth to contend.
Fast forward to the closing weeks of the 2024-25 regular season, however, and the Clippers are the team no one wants to meet in the playoffs—and it's due in no small part to Kawhi Leonard.
Despite his accolades, Leonard has become the most enigmatic player in the NBA. His battles with injuries have been the source of more debates than expressions of empathy, while his private lifestyle has left many frustrated by the lack of answers to the questions they've posed.
One thing that remains unavoidable, however, is that Leonard is one of the best players in NBA history—and when healthy, few can match up against him.
Leonard is a two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-NBA honoree, and seven-time All-Defense selectee. He's averaged 24.7 points in 33.2 minutes per game since 2016-17, shooting the lights out at a clip of .498/.391/.872.
Most importantly, with the 2025 NBA Playoffs just over the horizon, Leonard is beginning to look like himself again.
Kawhi Leonard is looking like Kawhi Leonard again
Leonard has turned in a respectable 2024-25 campaign since making his season debut on Jan. 4. He's averaging 20.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.0 three-point field goals made in 31.3 minutes per game, shooting efficiently with a slash line of .492/,399/.798.
Those numbers may not blow anyone away, but after spending the first two months of his season finding his footing, Leonard has reached a new gear.
Since Mar. 1, Leonard has appeared in 14 of the Clippers' 17 games and dominated along the way. He's accumulated averages of 25.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.3 three-point field goals made while posting a slash line of .527/.410/.820.
LA has gone 10-4 during those 14 games, defeating the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, and New York Knicks.
Leonard also dropped 25 points and 10 rebounds on 10-of-20 shooting during a fiercely competitive 103-101 loss to the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. Leonard scored nine points in the fourth quarter alone, demonstrating why the rest of the NBA needs to be wary of facing the Clippers.
If Leonard keeps progressing at this rate, there's every reason to believe that one of the only three active multi-time Finals MVP award-winners will be a threat to take over any series he plays in.
Clearly, it will take more than Leonard for the Clippers to win a playoff series. They're gaining steam, however, going 12-3 over the past 15 games, with four different players leading them in scoring during that time, including trade deadline steal Bogdan Bogdanovic.
With a team that seems to be gelling at the perfect time, and a two-time NBA champion leading the charge, no one wants to face the Clippers right now.