Kawhi Leonard addressed the significance of the Los Angeles Clippers returning to .500 after Monday’s 126-118 win over the New York Knicks. “It’s cool, you know, but the job ain’t done. The season’s not over,” Leonard said. “We don’t train to lose, we train to win.”
Leonard highlighted the impact of playing alongside Darius Garland. “It’s been great. Get some consistent minutes with him, another guy who can make plays, get me off the ball, get some catch-and-shoot opportunities, and push the pace with him on the floor,” he explained. He added, “He’s an all-star player. He can see the floor very well, shoot the ball, very crafty with his handle and finishes at the rim.”
On his own development, Leonard discussed his ball-handling work. “Just doing it in games against the best players, making mistakes and learning from them. Drills help, but the way to get better is in-game experience,” he said. He described his creativity as stemming from “fire. Just wanting to play well, get to certain spots, making mistakes and seeing what the defense is doing, and continuing to do that.”
Leonard noted the team’s pace has increased since February. “We have two-on-one breaks, three-on-one, three-on-two situations. Sometimes we might get a turnover or the ball might get kicked out, so we’re improving on finishing those plays and making shots,” he said.
He also praised Derrick Jones Jr.’s offensive aggression. “Whenever you’re aggressive and have that mindset, you continue to get better. The ball might not fall every night, but you stay at it,” Leonard said. He emphasized Bennedict Mathurin’s value late in games: “When you don’t have the ball, when Kris or Darius doesn’t have the ball, you’ve got a guy who can create for himself. He can score at different levels and get us to the free-throw line.”
Leonard reflected on the importance of persistence in the NBA. “It’s a marathon. Today isn’t the result. Once you keep pushing over time and stay at it, you’re going to increase what you’re trying to become. The 82-game season is about staying the course, learning from mistakes, and improving over time,” he said.
Monday’s win featured Leonard scoring 29 points as part of a balanced effort that included Garland’s 23 points and seven assists and Mathurin’s 28 points off the bench. The victory improved Los Angeles to 32-32, marking their first return to .500 since early November. Leonard’s 42nd consecutive game scoring at least 20 points continues to rank as the second-longest active streak in the NBA and third-longest in franchise history.
