The Los Angeles Clippers head into their training camp on the back of a rather turbulent series of events over the past month. Regardless, it is abundantly clear that the team is geared toward winning it all this season, as the coaching staff made it a point to motivate the players at camp.
Coming off a tough first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers will look to avoid making the same mistakes. Lead assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy made sure of this, as he inspired a new t-shirt design that was worn by the entire coaching staff.
Clippers coaches are wearing these shirts on the first day of training camp pic.twitter.com/QkwMKdYpX1
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) September 30, 2025
F – Floor Balance; U – Urgency; C – Consistent communication and concentration; and K – Know we lost to Denver because of transition.
The “Get The F**K Back” t-shirts are designed to motivate the team’s defensive efforts, emphasizing the importance of getting back in transition and preventing the opposition from scoring easy fastbreak points.
Clippers head coach Tyronne Lue addressed the t-shirts with the media after practice. While crediting Van Gundy with the idea, he said, “Transition defense. Get the F back. That’s what it says.”
The emphasis on defense could be positive for the Clippers heading into the 2025-26 season. Last season, Los Angeles had the fifth-best defense in the league, with a rating of 110.3. Given that they featured some solid defensive players such as Kawhi Leonard, Kris Dunn, and Ben Simmons in their ranks, they had a capable rotation in place.
Unfortunately, during the playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, their defensive rating ballooned to 115.0, placing immense pressure on the offensive unit to keep the team afloat.
The series against Denver was hard-fought, with the Nuggets only emerging victorious after seven games. Given the kind of performances displayed by Los Angeles’ star pair of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, the outcome could have gone either way.
An exit in the first round is undoubtedly disappointing for a team looking to make a title push. In this regard, the upcoming season could be the opportunity the team was looking for.
After an offseason marked by extensive signings, along with key trade acquisitions, the Clippers formed one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. Driven by veteran leadership and experience, Los Angeles possesses the necessary pieces to mount a convincing title charge.
However, as mentioned earlier, the last few months could present some new challenges.
Following the Clippers’ controversial dealings and efforts to circumvent the salary cap, the franchise could face major penalties in the near future. Depending on how harsh these penalties are, Los Angeles could potentially see all the momentum they gathered over the summer come to a grinding halt.
Regardless, L.A. still boasts an impressive roster. While the competition in the Western Conference is stiff, there is enough evidence to suggest that the Clippers will be a competitive team.
