Kawhi Leonard addressed the Los Angeles Clippers’ Game 7 defeat on Saturday night, after his team was outmatched 120-101 by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The loss ended the Clippers’ season, with Leonard leading his team with 22 points.
When asked to evaluate the game and the series, Leonard expressed disappointment but acknowledged Denver’s effort. “I think we could have got a better effort for sure,” he said. “At the time, I don’t think this team was 30 points better than us. We’ve seen it throughout the first six games of the series, but got to give them credit. They came out and fought, ran hard in transition, got easy points, and they made shots.”
As the Clippers face an early exit, the 2024-25 season’s abrupt end weighs heavily on Leonard. Reflecting on his focus for the future, he added, “Be able to start a training camp and be able to start the season, which will be great. But right now, this loss is still on my mind.”
Though the playoff defeat overshadowed the season’s accomplishments, Leonard recognized the significance of the Clippers’ 50-win regular season. “I don’t know,” he said, downplaying the achievement. “We just did a good job during the season… But that’s never the goal.”
In a nod to his own career, Leonard discussed his partnership with James Harden and the duo’s role in the Clippers’ future. “We’re still playing at a high level in a sense,” he remarked. “But yeah, I mean, it’s a hard question to answer.”
Leonard also paid tribute to his former coach, Gregg Popovich, who recently stepped down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard expressed gratitude for the mentorship he received during his time with the Spurs. “He had a phenomenal career,” he said. “He helped build my foundation and showed me how to win.”
The Clippers, having entered the playoffs with a 50-32 record, saw their postseason hopes dashed in a decisive Game 7 loss. Meanwhile, Denver advances to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round, while Los Angeles looks ahead to the offseason with questions surrounding their roster and future prospects.
