The L.A. Clippers instantly became title contenders when they traded for Paul George and signed Kawhi Leonard over the summer. Leonard had just led the Toronto Raptors to an NBA championship and was named NBA Finals MVP. George was having an MVP-type season until he was derailed by shoulder injuries. Adding the two players was a huge, franchise-changing coup for the Clippers.
But as great as the addition of both players has been for the organization, it has also brought new problems.
Leonard and George are superstars, and superstars receive star treatment. That is definitely the case with Leonard, who adheres to a load/injury management schedule and often misses games even when the perception is that he is healthy.
Last season’s Clippers won 48 games and won two games off a vastly superior Warriors team in the playoffs. Many attributed the Clippers' success last season to their tough attitude and hard-nosed style of play. The load-management style is in contrast with the grinding style the Clippers showed last season.
That change in ethos, coupled with some of the star treatment Leonard and George receive, has been a difficult adjustment for some Clippers players, according to a report published Thursday by The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and Sam Amick. (Subscription required).
From The Athletic:
"Off the court, sources say there are some teammates who have struggled with the organization’s preferential treatment that is afforded to Leonard and George."
A team making this kind of an adjustment to having superstars is part of the process when you acquire players like Leonard and George. It’s not an easy transition, and that’s what makes it challenging for super-teams to win in their first season together.
But if anyone knows what it takes to win, it’s Leonard. And while it’s frustrating to see the preferential treatment at times, the Clippers should trust that things will work out in the end.
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