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Clippers 2026 Player Preview: Kawhi Leonard
Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers’ embattled superstar.
Basic Information
Height: 6’7
Weight: 225 pounds
Position: Small Forward/Power Forward
Age: 34
Years in NBA: 14
Stats: 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.9 turnovers in 31.9 minutes per game across 37 games played (all starts) on 49.8/41.1/81.0 shooting splits (5.1 3PA, 3.3 FTA) for 58.9 True Shooting
Contract Status: Signed for $50M this year and $50M next year in the middle of a three-year deal
Expectations
It’s hard to map out expectations for Kawhi Leonard. But considering he finally finished a season healthy and is going into this season healthy, I think it’s reasonable enough to have actual expectations this year. Kawhi’s numbers have declined every season he’s been a Clipper, but he’s still a star-level player and at age 34, should be able to perform like one for another couple of years. I think scoring in the low 20s, his usual handful of rebounds and assists, and good but not world-class defense are fair expectations for Kawhi at this stage.
Things are, of course, a bit complicated by the offseason reporting by Pablo Torre on the Clippers, Kawhi, and the company Aspiration. The NBA has launched an investigation into potential wrongdoing, and it’s already been stated that there probably won’t be updates until the All Star Break at earliest. On one hand, the investigation and the story could hang over the season like a cloud. On the other, the Clippers could maintain an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach and focus on proving “the haters” wrong. Kawhi in particular might have something to prove this year. That said, there is at least a possibility of Kawhi being suspended or otherwise punished if the investigation does find the Clippers and Kawhi circumvented the salary cap or otherwise broke league rules. We will just have to wait and see.
Strengths
Kawhi’s best skill at this point is his scoring package, a funny thing considering he came into the NBA as a defense-first (and some thought defense-only) player. Despite missing over half of the season and getting ramped up once he did return, Kawhi still averaged more than 21.5 points per game and scored at an efficient rate. Kawhi remains a deadly midrange shooter, with his size, strength, and footwork enabling him to get his 15-footer off consistently against almost any defense. That go-to shot is an incredibly important skill as a lead scorer in the NBA, and it’s partially why Kawhi is as feared as he is.
However, Kawhi has also improved his three-point shot over the years. For his Clippers’ career, he’s a 40.3% shooter from deep on 5.1 attempts per game – excellent efficiency and solid volume. That shotmaking has enabled Kawhi to play off-ball a significant amount, letting guards like James Harden handle more of the playmaking and on-ball duties. You’d wish Kawhi would shoot a tad more considering his efficacy, but he’s still excellent as a spot-up presence.
Finally, Kawhi is still a very strong defender. He does not ramp up his defense as much as he did earlier in his career, when he was one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history, but he’s still big, strong, and physical on-ball and a menace in passing lanes due to his wingspan and instincts. Kawhi is particularly good at helping at the rim and covering up for back-line flaws, pairing with Ivica Zubac to give the Clippers a robust rim defense. In games when he really locks in, Kawhi elevates from good to superb defensively, and hopefully he can do more of that this year with fewer responsibilities on offense.
Weaknesses
If availability is the best strength, lack of availability is the worst weakness, and Kawhi Leonard just has not been as available as the Clippers (and Kawhi) would like during his Clippers’ tenure. In his six seasons with the team, Leonard has played 57, 52, 0, 52, 68, and 37 games, for an average of 44 games per season. Basic math would tell you that is just over 50% of the NBA’s 82-game regular season calendar. Not only has Kawhi’s lack of availability made the team worse on a game-to-game basis, but it also mitigated the Clippers’ potential chemistry and has resulted in confusion across the organization at points. There are many, many reasons the Clippers have not had the success they thought they would when they signed Kawhi in 2019, but his shaky health has to be the number one factor.
Kawhi’s play has also dipped during his time with the Clippers. His scoring has declined every single season on the team, and his 2025 campaign saw Clippers’ tenure lows in rebounds, assists, minutes, and true shooting efficiency – though his numbers were more in line with his team averages once he was up to full strength. His advanced metrics reflect the decline as well, with his BPM falling from 8.9 in 2020 to 7.3, 6.1, 5.5, and then 3.1 last year. Per BPM, that made his first two years All-NBA first team caliber with his last season being just an All-Star performance. I think he can improve upon last season’s numbers due to a healthy offseason, but the days of him being an MVP-level player are probably over.
In terms of sheer on-court weaknesses, Kawhi’s biggest flaw has always been his playmaking, which is good but not great for a scorer of his caliber. The additions of Chris Paul and Bradley Beal on top of the presence of James Harden will mitigate that weakness to some extent, but it’s still present.
Finally, Kawhi no longer gets to the line like he used to. He had a free throw rate of 0.194 last year (he got to the line 0.194 times for every field goal attempt), the lowest of his career and far lower than in his prime. Again, those numbers might bounce back a bit after a healthy offseason, but it’s hard to be a truly elite scorer in the NBA if you don’t get to the line frequently.
Summary
Kawhi Leonard remains the Clippers’ most important player in
terms of ceiling. If he can somehow stay healthy for most of the season and
into the playoffs, they will probably be a very good team with a shot at a deep
playoff run. If his campaign is once again marred by injury, the Clippers will
probably be a pretty good regular season squad with no real shot at a
postseason push. Right now, Kawhi is healthy and looks good, and that’s a
terrific sign for the Clippers. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen throughout his
six-year tenure, his availability can turn on a dime. The Clippers just have to
do their best to keep him going and hope for one last season of superstar-level
play combined with health.