INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- The departure of one of your superstars doesn’t usually equate to a positive outlook for a team’s success in sports. But with Paul George now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, there was a new energy instilled into the Los Angeles Clippers at Media Day.
It is a new era, a fresh start, for an organization that has moved into their new $2 billion dollar stadium in Inglewood, The Intuit Dome. With many new faces and some familiar ones, there is a sense of hunger and motivation from this 2024 Clippers squad.
Terance Mann, when talking about the new additions to the team, said “We are ready to go to war with each other” and mentioned the hunger that the team already has before their first official practice.
In years past, there have been lofty expectations surrounding the Clippers, mainly because of the stardom that the roster has possessed since 2019, but this team feels disrespected and overlooked in many ways.
Ric Tapia - The Sporting Tribune
James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers poses during media day at Intuit Dome on September 30, 2024 in Inglewood, California.
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard will be the two stars leading this team, both in offensive output, and leadership. Leonard’s health has been the talk of the offseason however, as he was removed from Team USA training camp for the Olympics. According to some reports, he also had an offseason procedure done to mitigate his lingering inflammation in the right knee, dating back to March of 2024.
Kawhi seemed to be in good spirits during Media Day though, stating “I’m happy it is feeling good and feeling a lot better than it was.” This is a good sign for the team and for fans heading into a year that is filled with question marks about this team’s position in the ever so tough Western Conference.
If Kawhi Leonard can get back to being the Second Team All-NBA player that he was last season, combined with the skill and talent of James Harden, there is no doubt that the team can compete in the West.
Norm Powell on the loss of Paul George this offseason:
— Money Mona (@Gmona48) September 30, 2024
“Media outlets and people like to write us off because we don’t have PG anymore…guys will be able to expand…addition by subtraction…”
Whew. 🔥@SportingTrib
Norm Powell, a 2023-2024 Sixth Man of the Year candidate, says that he has seen some of the predictions from media outlets, “I know media and outlets like to write us off because we don’t have PG and Russ…excited to prove media wrong.”
In many ways, this Clippers team feels a lot like the scrappy, competitive, gritty rosters that the organization has had in the past, namely in the 2018-2019 season and 2021-2022 season without any stars.
The 18-19 team featured Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley and a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and took the vaunted Golden State Warriors to six games in the first round of the playoffs that season.
The 21-22 squad was a team that was coming off of a Western Conference Finals appearance, but lost Paul George early and Kawhi Leonard was recovering from a torn ACL, en route to a Play-In Tournament appearance before being eliminated by the New Orleans Pelicans.
What those two teams had was spirit, fight, and moxie that some teams in the “213 Era” did not have. As the Clippers transition from that era into this new one, with a fresh rebrand, new uniforms, and a luxurious new arena, the offseason additions that the front office made represent a certain grittiness that Clipper fans have been missing.
Derrick Jones Jr on his defense: “I told Ty put me on the best. I want to guard the best player.”@SportingTrib pic.twitter.com/91fLySHF2K
— Money Mona (@Gmona48) September 30, 2024
Derrick Jones Jr., who made a huge impact on the first round series against the Clippers in the 2024 playoffs, was signed to a three year deal. Kris Dunn, a feisty and tough guard defender, was traded for and then signed to a three year deal as well. A familiar face in Nicolas Batum re-signed with the Clippers on a 1+1 contract to shore up the wing spot as a dynamic defender. Kevin Porter Jr., who was let go from the Houston Rockets in 2022 due to a domestic dispute, was signed by the Clippers after an offseason overseas.
These signings, alongside the addition of Jeff Van Gundy, a longtime head coach in the NBA, who was involved with Tyronn Lue for Team USA and an advisor for the Boston Celtics last year, make for a defensive identity for this team.
Sure, the team won’t get the praise in the national media, and they won’t play in as many nationally televised games as in years past, but that’s fine for this Clippers squad. They hear the noise, they are embracing it, and Clipper fans are already excited to see how the season plays out.