LA Clippers Why the Clippers Must Blow It Up After Their Stunning Turnaround
The Los Angeles Clippers finished the 2025-26 season 42-40 after storming back from a 6-21 start. They earned the No. 9 seed in the West before losing in the play-in tournament. That late surge masked deeper problems: they ranked near the bottom in defensive rating for long stretches despite Kawhi Leonard posting 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game on 50.5 percent shooting across 65 games. The season ended with the familiar feeling of another first-round exit, confirming that the roster built around an aging star and mismatched pieces has hit its ceiling.