Clippers' Kawhi Leonard matches Kobe Bryant with historic stretch

Kawhi Leonard has carried Los Angeles Clippers over the last month 

Prior to New Year's Day, Leonard capped off 2025 with 33 points as the Clippers beat the Sacramento Kings, 131-90. He also set a new career-high with 55 points on a 65.4% shooting night with 11 boards on Dec. 28 against the Pistons.

Those monster performances and his overall play through the month of December — he had five games with at least 30 points and reached 20 in all 12 — have made the Clippers a team to watch during the second half of the season. 

Los Angeles Clippers have come a long way in a short time 

Following an atrocious start to the season, Los Angeles is now 12-21, on a six-game winning streak and 6-4 in its last 10 games. While this only has the Clippers in 11th place in the Western Conference standings, they are only a game and a half out of the final play-in spot, something that seemed very far away when they sent Chris Paul home early in the morning at the start of December.  

At that time, the Clippers were 5-16 and in the midst of claiming the honor of the most disappointing team of the season before the trade deadline. 

As always, if Leonard can keep up his historic stretch and if the Clippers can climb up the standings enough to become a true contender will likely hinge on the health of the two-time NBA Finals MVP.