Why Kawhi Leonard’s Three-Point Barrage Has Turned the Clippers Into the NBA’s Hottest Team
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LOS ANGELES — A roster that stumbled to a 6-21 start is suddenly one of the league’s toughest outs, and the catalyst is a dramatic change in Kawhi Leonard’s shot selection.
Since Dec. 20, the 34-year-old forward leads the NBA in both scoring and steals while lifting the LA Clippers to a 16-3 record over their past 19 games. Assistant coach Brian Shaw, who once played alongside Kobe Bryant, said Leonard’s recent dedication to the three-point line reminds him of Bryant’s relentless work ethic. “Once he sets his mind to something, he’s all in,” Shaw told ESPN.
The Dec. 20 turning point
The shift began during a 103-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Before tipoff, Leonard informed head coach Tyronn Lue he planned to fire up 12 threes. He followed through, sparking an offensive overhaul that has lasted more than a month.
Entering that night, the Clippers ranked 23rd in offensive efficiency. From Dec. 20 forward, they sit second, producing nearly eight additional points per 100 possessions. Leonard’s three-point attempts have climbed to nearly nine per game in that span, up from a career-high seven for the season overall, and he is converting better than 43 percent of those looks.
Opening the floor — and easing the wear
The long-range focus benefits Leonard’s health as well as the stat sheet. By spending less time absorbing contact in the paint, the two-time Finals MVP reduces physical strain that has repeatedly interrupted his tenure with the Clippers. According to Shaw, “Ty [Lue] has pushed him to find easier shots so he doesn’t have to grind every possession.”
Assistant coach Jeremy Castleberry, whom Lue labels the “Kawhi whisperer,” spent nearly two years encouraging Leonard to expand his range. Leonard finally agreed when the team’s early struggles demanded a new approach. “If I keep shooting, even when they don’t fall, it tells everyone else to stay aggressive,” Leonard said.
Statistical proof of dominance
ESPN Research reports Leonard owns the league’s best net rating among players who have logged at least 500 minutes since Dec. 20. The Clippers win more than 66 percent of the games he plays; their record drops to 49 percent when he sits, a gap that has defined the franchise since his 2019 arrival.
Harden-Leonard pairing among NBA’s elite
James Harden, whose locker adjoins Leonard’s, believes he may be the teammate who understands Leonard best. Their on-court chemistry supports that claim: out of 146 two-man combinations with 700-plus shared minutes this season, Harden and Leonard rank eighth in offensive rating and fourth among duos not employed by the Denver Nuggets.
“Sharing lockers next to him, I think I get the most out of him,” Harden said, noting that neither star has visited the other’s home. Harden describes Leonard as meticulous about nutrition, hydration and recovery — traits underscored by the premium Austrian alkaline water bottles often stacked in Leonard’s locker.
Eyes on durability
The Clippers have seen championship hopes derail repeatedly by Leonard’s injuries, making his current stretch both electrifying and fragile. Harden praised Leonard’s persistence: “Most people wouldn’t keep coming back the way he has. He works his ass off so he can keep playing.”
For now, Leonard’s sharpened perimeter game is paying immediate dividends, vaulting Los Angeles from the Western Conference cellar to contender status. Whether the surge can survive the grind of the remaining schedule, and ultimately the postseason, remains the question hanging over a franchise that rises and falls with its uniquely driven star.
Source: ESPN
