Kawhi Leonard has agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Clippers that will keep him in Los Angeles until at least 2027. The star forward is in the middle of his fifth season with the franchise, but he missed all of the 2021-22 season with an ACL injury.
“It means a lot for the organization and for himself as well. When you can get a top 10 player to sign back, it says a lot about your organization,” said Tyronn Lue.
The two-time Finals MVP is averaging 23.8 points per game on a career-high .584 effective field goal percentage. Once again healthy and surrounded by other talented players, Leonard is playing some of the best basketball of his career at the age of 32.
The addition of James Harden has helped take some of the load off of both Leonard and Paul George, which has allowed the forward duo to become highly efficient this year. Instead of shouldering most of the offensive production, they can now pick their spots and be even more effective when they get their touches.
This will hopefully allow them to stay healthy throughout the entirety of this season while also extending their careers.
“We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with Kawhi. He is an elite player, a terrific partner and a relentless worker who knows how to win and makes it his first priority,” said Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. “He elevated our franchise from the moment he arrived. We feel fortunate that Kawhi chose to join the Clippers five years ago and excited to keep building with him.”
Both Paul George and James Harden will be free agents at the end of the season, and now that Leonard is locked up, the front office can turn their attention towards extending the other stars as well.
“I think, for the most part, everybody is coming back, so with me signing the extension, I think it gives us the chance to sign both of those players,” said Leonard.
The extension lets us know the knee issues Leonard has dealt with appear to be in the past. He has yet to deliver a championship for Los Angeles, and it is time for him to come through and lead this team to the NBA Finals.
The Clippers will face some tough competition in the Western Conference playoffs, but nothing is holding them back from being the best team in the league.
“I am just focused on the right now,” said Leonard. “I am in the moment in this season, and I am trying to get us to a place we haven’t been before, and that is what I am focused on.”
At 24-13, the Clippers are two games back from first place and have only lost three games since the beginning of December.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.
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