The Los Angeles Clippers enter the 2025-26 NBA season with all the makings of a star-studded team, but will that translate into playoff glory, or is “superteam” talk just hype? After finishing last season with a 50-32 record and securing the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, the Clippers ultimately fell short in a grueling 7-game first-round showdown against the Denver Nuggets.
Health issues once again proved costly, as Kawhi Leonard’s time wavered due to injuries and other challenges. Fast forward to the new offseason: L.A. has gone all-in. Kawhi, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac return as the core, but the front office has transformed the supporting cast into one of the league’s richest rosters.
Bradley Beal has signed on via a two-year, $10.9 million bargain contract, drawn by the opportunity he “need[s] a ring”. Meanwhile, the veteran “Point God” Chris Paul is back in Hollywood for what’s likely his final season, a sentimental return on a one-year, $3.6 million deal.
The frontcourt gets a boost from John Collins via a three-team trade, bringing athletic finishing and three-point touch, and the Clippers also added Brook Lopez to shore up the paint. On paper, the Clippers now boast a roster brimming with experience, scoring firepower, and big names. But are they legitimate title contenders, or are they too over the hill? Let’s analyze the depth chart.
Starting Lineup
James Harden, Bradley Beal, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, Ivica Zubac
At the helm of the Clippers’ engine is James Harden. In the 2024-25 season, Harden was a dynamic catalyst, averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds across 79 starts (all games) for an All-NBA Third Team nod.
His usage and playmaking remained elite even as his efficiency slipped and his three-point percentage dipped to 35.2%, prompting questions around his declining production. Still, his ability to orchestrate and influence the game sets the tone for L.A.’s offensive identity without a doubt.
Next to him is Kawhi Leonard, the two-way cornerstone whose presence dictates both ends of the floor. Despite a fractured season, playing just 37 games due to early knee inflammation and personal issues, when on the court, Kawhi averaged 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and shot a sharp 49.8% from the field.
His elite defense and postseason pedigree remain important, although durability remains the defining factor as the team tries to get back on top. The interior is fortified by Ivica Zubac and John Collins. Zubac provided a foundation of consistent production, posting 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds on a blazing 62.8% field-goal rate, a steady anchor on both ends.
John Collins, acquired in the offseason via trade, brings athleticism and spacing. His recent stint with Utah showed he can average 19.0 points and 8.2 rebounds at 52.7% shooting. His fit beside Zubac potentially adds an alternate dimension to L.A.’s frontcourt, blending mobility with post pop-ups.
Bench
Chris Paul, Kris Dunn, Cam Christie, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kobe Brown, Brook Lopez
The veteran depth chart begins with Chris Paul, a point guard who returns to inject leadership and floor control into L.A.’s second unit. While we won’t know how much he has left in the tank, his reputation as a smart, stabilizing force off the bench is unmatched.
His ability to manage game tempo and mentor teammates layers experience over the athletic core above. Among the perimeter depth, Bradley Beal’s arrival ignites scoring prowess.
With the Suns, Beal averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 53 games, shooting 49.7% from the floor. Joining this star-laden rotation on a veteran-friendly two-year deal, he brings perimeter gravity and a proven shot-creating skill set, a welcomed boost for crunch-time execution.
Rounding out the bench is a mix of versatile glue-guys and role-player specialists. Kris Dunn (74 G) contributed 6.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 43.9% shooting, bringing defensive versatility and hustle. Derrick Jones Jr. injected energy with 10.1 points per game, shooting 52.6% as a wing who can finish above the rim.
Meanwhile, vets like Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nicolas Batum, Brook Lopez, Cam Christie, and Kobe Brown offer spacing, defensive IQ, and frontcourt depth, each a strategic piece in L.A.’s rotation flexibility
Roster Strengths
Los Angeles enters the 2025-26 campaign equipped with a high-octane offense anchored by James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and the newly added Bradley Beal. Harden remains a floor general whose playmaking is elite, and Beal brings complementary scoring punch at a bargain price, making the trio a formidable nucleus. Coach Ty Lue has a wealth of offensive options, able to stagger minutes creatively with Harden, Beal, and Paul to keep defenses off balance.
We have to give the Clippers an “A” for their offseason, thanks to the influx of veteran talent, including Beal, Paul, Collins, and Lopez, all of whom averaged over 17 minutes per game last year. Add to that a defensive backbone featuring Ivica Zubac, Kris Dunn, and Nicolas Batum, and the team carries both experience and tactical flexibility across units.
With elite interior presence from Ivica Zubac, recognized as the team’s best post defender, averaging 1.2 blocks and excelling at limiting shots near the rim, and perimeter lockdown from Kris Dunn, Jones Jr., and Batum, the Clippers maintain a strong defensive identity. The mix of veteran reliability and depth gives L.A. the blueprint to withstand playoff attrition.
Key Weaknesses And Concerns
However, the Clippers now field one of the most veteran-heavy lineups in NBA history, with an average age of 33.2 years, making them the oldest roster ever. Their stars are battle-tested but oft-injured: Kawhi has been limited repeatedly by knee issues, including extended absences and setbacks during the 2024-25 season. While that experience is invaluable, durability remains the biggest wild card.
Despite defensive improvements, we have to point to a lack of offensive cohesion and spacing, especially with Beal replacing more consistent shooters like Norman Powell. Analysts highlight that beyond Harden, the Clippers lack reliable ball-movers or facilitators, increasing the pressure on their stars. Even deeper rotation pieces like Derrick Jones Jr. are seen as liabilities, with limited three-point shooting threatening to clog the floor.
Despite a 50-win regular season, the Clippers have now suffered three straight first-round exits, with Harden’s playoff performances repeatedly coming under scrutiny. His inefficiencies in critical postseason moments raise red flags about the team’s ability to close series.
Furthermore, with limited young legs available and backup bigs not yet proven, the physical toll of a deep playoff run could expose their limits, especially down the stretch when fatigue and matchup exploitation become magnified.
Los Angeles Clippers Will Have A Strong Regular Season, But Will Likely Falter In The Playoffs
As the 2025-26 season unfolds, the Los Angeles Clippers look primed for a strong regular season. With a deep and experienced roster built around Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, and bolstered by savvy veterans like Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, John Collins, and Brook Lopez, L.A. projects to exceed a 52-54 win total, well within contention for a top-4 seed in the Western Conference.
The return of their superstar two-way anchor, Kawhi, is already transforming the team’s identity: when he’s available, the Clippers’ net rating jumps into elite territory, mirroring the peaking trends of recent Cinderella stories like the 2023 Heat and 2024 Mavericks.
Yet, expectations have to be lessened. While their roster is deep and well-constructed, it is also notably one of the oldest in league history, led by Paul, Harden, Leonard, Batum, and Lopez, all former All-Stars now in their twilight years.
That aging core, while experienced, brings the ever-present risk of fatigue or injury when it matters most. In the regular season, the Clippers should roll through games with star power to outmatch most weeks. But come playoff time, particularly in the physical Western Conference, that same lack of youthful legs may become a liability.
Without a significant surge in playoff chemistry or an unexpected breakout from their bench, beyond what oddsmakers currently forecast, the most likely finish remains a deep run that ultimately falls short when matched with younger, more explosive, or healthier contenders. The big names simply won’t be able to stay healthy, committed, or capable against the younger, more explosive teams like the OKC Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets.
