Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers closes (sorry Kobe Brown and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, you are just missing out on the cut based on my own missed deadlines) with new backup center, Brook Lopez.

Basic Information

Height: 7’1

Weight: 280 pounds

Position: Center

Age: 37

Years in NBA: 17

Stats: 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.1 turnovers in 31.8 minutes per game across 80 games played (all starts) on 50.9/37.3/82.6 shooting splits (4.7 3PA, 1.7 FTA) for 62.4 True Shooting

Contract Status: Signed a two-year, $18M contract this past offseason

Expectations

Brook comes to the Clippers with among the clearest expectations of anyone on the roster: be a competent backup center. After being a starter almost his entire career, Brook is overqualified to be a reserve, even as he heads deeper into his late 30s. One of the most experienced players in the entire league, Brook knows where to be on both ends of the court, has seen every scheme, and should help anchor the Clippers when Ivica Zubac is off the court. In terms of production, scoring of around 8-10 points per game on excellent efficiency and a handful of other stats seems reasonable.

Strengths

Brook has three strengths, and they’re all significant. First, he’s one of the very best shooting big men in the NBA, combining volume (4.7 threes attempted last year), accuracy (37.3%), and depth (will take threes well behind the line). He will instantly be the best shooting big man in Clippers’ history, that’s for sure, and that unique element will give the Clippers’ offense a new twist. His pairing with John Collins in the second unit makes particular sense, as Brook can space the floor while Collins dives to the rim. Shooting can be overrated at times, but having a true floor-spacing big man opens up the offense for everyone else and has immense value.

Second, Brook remains a strong rim protector. He’s extremely slow-footed at this point of his career, but he’s a massive, massive man even by NBA standards, and that size deters plenty of foes from even attempting shots around the basket. Brook is also extremely savvy in timing his blocks and rotations to provide maximum impact, working his way around his lack of mobility and vertical leap. There are not many players in the NBA better at deterring or blocking shots at the rim than Brook.

Finally, Brook can still cook in the post. He doesn’t get the ball there as much as he did in his days on the Nets, but his touch, size, footwork, and strength enable him to get buckets there, especially when he has mismatches against smaller defenders. When the second unit runs out of ideas on offense, there are far worse ideas than giving Brook the ball on the low block.

Weaknesses

While an extremely potent rim protector, Brook is very limited when not playing in drop coverage. His slow feet make him a prime target out on the perimeter when guarding smaller players, so you can’t switch one through five with him on the floor. Similarly, even though he’s a highly intelligent defender, there are times when he just can’t make the rotations he used to because he’s a step slow.

It must be noted that Brook is very old. He was good last year, and he looked quite good in preseason, but the bottom can fall out on NBA players at any time. His size and shooting are probably enough to keep him from becoming unplayable, but there’s a chance that an extra half step lost on both ends could severely mitigate his effectiveness. The Clippers just have to hope that last backwards slide from “rotation-caliber player” to “not a rotation-caliber player” does not happen this year.

Summary

Brook is coming to the Clippers at the end of his career, but promises the most reliable backup center play the Clippers have had in a long, long time (Isaiah Hartenstein was really good in 2022 but still figuring a few things out). A local guy who is beloved around the league for his personality, I think he will very quickly become a fan favorite in Los Angeles. I, for one, can’t wait to watch Brook combine with Chris Paul for some of the oldest pick and rolls in NBA history. There is not a ton of upside with Brook, obviously, but his steadiness on both ends will be like water in the desert for the Clippers after their backup centers of the past few years.

Clippers 2026 Player Preview: Brook Lopez
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues the longest tenured player on the team, starting center Ivica Zubac.

Basic Information

Height: 7’0

Weight: 240 pounds

Position: Center

Age: 28

Years in NBA: 9

Stats: 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.6 turnovers in 32.8 minutes per game across 80 games played (all starts) on 62.8/66.1 shooting splits (0 3PA, 3.0 FTA) for 64.1 True Shooting

Contract Status: In the first year of a three-year, $58.5M deal, making $18M this season

Expectations

Zu has raised expectations for himself after putting together a career-best season in 2025. Zu set career highs in nearly every statistical category last year, including games played, minutes, points, rebounds, and assists per game, and advanced metrics like win shares and BPM. He was a dominant two-way presence, earning an All-Defense Second Team nod while receiving votes for All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year. While I don’t expect Zu’s counting stats will be quite as high this year, as the Clippers have more talent and are healthier going into the season, he is in his prime, so I do expect his overall impact to be at a similar level.

Strengths

Zu’s biggest strength is his defensive acumen. Always a plus on that end, Zu has continued to take steps in terms of his awareness, ability to stay out of foul trouble, and stoutness in defending opposing big men in the post. He’s a fantastic rim protector that consistently ranks among the NBA’s best in terms of opposing field goal percentage at the bucket. Not many players can shift Zu out of the way in one-on-one matchups, and he’s a very tough player to finish through. There are not many centers who have a larger impact on that end of the court.

A huge element of Zu’s defense is his rebounding. He’s a terrific rebounder on both ends of the court, with his ability to collect defensive rebounds being particularly important on closing possessions. Zu led the NBA in defensive, offensive, and total rebounds last season, and while that probably won’t happen again, it shows just how strong he is in that element of the game.

The area where Zu took his biggest strides last season was on the offensive end. Zu boosted his scoring from his previous career high of 11.7 points per game all the way up to 16.8 points per game – all while not sacrificing much in the way of efficiency. He and James Harden developed one of the most efficient and deadly pick and rolls in the NBA, with Zu’s monster screens and soft hands getting him several easy buckets per game. Zu’s offensive rebounding, long a strength, continued, providing more easy scores right around the rim. And, most importantly, Zu’s ability to get the ball in the post and score without assistance took a leap. In fact, Zu got so good in the post that teams started sending double teams – and Zu responded by improving his playmaking, posting by far a career high in assists per game while keeping his turnovers down.

Finally, it must be noted that Zu’s reliability is a massive strength. As a Clipper, he’s played in 72, 72, 76, 76, 68, and 80 games, with one of the 72-game seasons being every game because of the COVID-shortened campaign. Early in his Clippers days, the coaching staff worried about Zu losing energy and effectiveness if he played too much, and he firmly refuted that by logging major minutes last year. He’s always on the court, has plus stamina for a guy his size, and does not take stuff away. There’s not much to nitpick.

Weaknesses

It’s hard to say that Zu really has weaknesses at this point, more like limitations. He can’t shoot threes, or really any shots from outside of around eight feet from the rim, but that does not really matter for his position archetype. He can’t attack from the perimeter at all, but that’s not something the Clippers really need from him. He’s not a big man that can bring the ball up the court, but that’s an extremely rare skillset that’s hard to knock.

Really, the only thing you could point to as an actual weakness for Zu is that he’s not great at defending players out on the perimeter. A phenomenal defender in drop and help around the rim, Zu is not comfortable in switch-heavy defenses, as he’s prone to getting cooked by guards and swifter wings. The Clippers have designed their defense around Zu’s potent strengths, but his lack of switchability does make him a bit less “versatile” than other premier defensive big men like Evan Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Victor Wembanyama.

Summary

Ivica Zubac is primed for a monster season. With a better backup behind him in Brook Lopez and more surrounding talent on offense, Zu can focus on the things he does best without having to carry the team on offense. Already one of the best centers in Clippers’ franchise history, another big year from Zu will put him into truly lofty conversations regarding his place in franchise lore. I have every confidence that Zu will have a season of that caliber, and he’s probably the Clipper I have the most faith in meeting his floor of expectations. Hopefully he makes it happen and helps the Clippers have another strong season.

Clippers 2026 Player Preview: Ivica Zubac
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with one of their new acquisitions, veteran forward John Collins.

Basic Information

Height: 6’9

Weight: 235 pounds

Position: Power Forward

Age: 28

Years in NBA: 8

Stats: 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.6 turnovers in 30.5 minutes per game across 40 games played (31 starts) on 52.7/39.9/84.8 shooting splits (3.7 3PA, 4.1 FTA) for 62.8 True Shooting

Contract Status: In the final year of a five-year deal originally signed with the Hawks, making $26.58M this season.

Expectations

Collins came to the Clippers with a good amount of fanfare – Clippers’ fans have wanted the team to trade for him for at least three years. A large, athletic forward, Collins is a type of player the Clippers have not had in a long time (since Blake Griffin, really, though there are similarities to Montrezl Harrell), and fans have been hankering for a more physical starting forward next to Kawhi. Collins is coming off a couple seasons in Utah where he fell off the radar a bit after being a higher-profile player in Atlanta. On the last year of a five-year deal that he signed back when he seemed a key part of Atlanta’s future, Collins is at a career crossroads.

At first, it was expected that Collins would start at power forward. However, the Bradley Beal addition – and the instant reporting that he would likely start – changed that. With another offense-first player in the starting unit, the thinking shifted to Derrick Jones Jr. starting, and after preseason, it seems all but set in stone that Collins will come off the bench. Collins will still play a lot (I’d say 20-30 minutes most games), and I think reasonably can be expected for something like 14 points, 5 rebounds, and other ancillary stats while bringing some highlight-reel dunks to the Clips.

Strengths

John Collins is a well-rounded offensive player that technically qualifies as a three-level scorer even though he’s not a traditional creator. Collins has honed his three-point shot over the past couple years and is a reliable marksman from distance. While not a prolific midrange shooter, he’s more than capable of rising up from 16 feet. And, most importantly for the Clippers, Collins is a dominant rim attacker that is thunderous as a roll man and capable of finishing over and through even stout defenders. His best years were eating in the pick and roll alongside Trae Young in Atlanta, and there’s no reason he can’t duplicate some of that success with Harden and Chris Paul in Los Angeles.

Collins is also a solid rebounder that will consistently contribute on both the defensive and offensive glass. He’s not a dominant presence, but when playing at the four next to traditional big men like Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez he will help the Clippers be (hopefully) a very good rebounding team. Things are a little trickier if you ask him to play small-ball center, but the Clippers probably won’t be doing that much.

Weaknesses

Collins is not really a playmaker for others, nor a shot creator. Despite scoring over 21 points per game earlier in his career and averaging 19 last season, Collins is a play-finisher that does not have an advanced handle or passing game. That’s fine for his archetype of player, to be clear, but the Clippers can’t force feed him the ball (especially out on the perimeter) to get easy buckets. If the Clippers’ second unit needs a go-to bucket getter, it will probably have to be through a stagger with one of Kawhi, Harden, or Beal. That lack of passing can be frustrating at times as well – there will be plays he has someone open and either misses the pass or is a beat too late on making it.

Collins is also an inconsistent defensive player. While certainly not awful (he’s just too large and physical to be that bad), there are times he can miss rotations or be a step slow in help. When playing on-ball, despite his athleticism, Collins is not great at switching out onto smaller guys, instead being a better option on larger and more physical players. There are times he can really lock in defensively (he was awesome on that end in the Hawks’ run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals), but that can make the missteps on a game-to-game basis more frustrating.

Summary

John Collins might be my biggest x-factor of the Clippers’ season (outside of health and age-related concerns). If he’s able to tap into his role player skills and be a force for the Clippers as a roll-man, rebounder, and physical presence on defense, he can offer traits that no other Clipper can and will be a huge part of their season. There’s also a scenario where he does not do those things and is more of an empty calorie scorer that is less essential when push comes to shove. For the Clippers’ and Collins’ sake, I hope he’s able to rejuvenate his career in LA after a couple quiet seasons in Utah. I think Collins could be really, really good for this team, but it’s all up to him.

Clippers 2026 Player Preview: John Collins
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with beloved veteran Nic Batum.

Basic Information

Height: 6’8

Weight: 230 pounds

Position: Power Forward/Small Forward

Age: 36

Years in NBA: 17

Stats: 4.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 turnovers in 17.5 minutes per game across 78 games played (8 starts) on 43.7/43.3/81.0 shooting splits (2.6 3PA, 0.3 FTA) for 63.3 True Shooting

Contract Status: Signed a two-year, $11.5M deal this summer

Expectations

Nic Batum has one of the clearest roles on the 2026 Clippers: be a competent, steady, two-way forward that can fill minutes alongside any of the Clippers’ best players. Nico’s role downsized last year compared to earlier in his Clippers’ tenure (his 17.5 minutes per game were a career low), but impact stats and the eye test still marked him as a clear plus player on both ends. Nico’s size, smarts, and shooting should keep him as a positive presence on the court even as the last vestiges of his athleticism fade away.

Strengths

Nico’s top-billed strength, at this point in his career, is on the defensive end. Despite being old and slow (by NBA standards), Nico’s size, length, smarts, and strength still enable him to guard multiple positions. More importantly, he’s always in the right spot on that end of the floor, and his presence and communication help to prevent defensive breakdowns. He is not a stopper anymore, but is a clear plus on defense and will likely remain that way.

On offense, Nico’s biggest asset is his three-point shooting. He shot 43.3% from deep last year (albeit on only 2.6 attempts per game) and has shot 40.4% from three across his tenure with the Clippers. Nico’s height and quick release mean he can get off threes even against hard-closing defenders, and he’s fantastic at relocating to different spots on the floor to provide maximum spacing. He’s not a truly top-tier shooter, but he’s someone who defenses have to respect out there.

Finally, it must be noted that Nico just brings all the intangibles, and then some. He is a beloved teammate, a player that is trusted by the Clippers stars and coaching staff alike. You always know what you’re getting from Nico, even when the shots aren’t falling or the matchup is a tough one. That reliability is priceless from a role player.

Weaknesses

Nico’s only true weakness is that he no longer really takes shots on offense that aren’t threes. Nico took 85.3% of his shots from three last year, a career high, and that number will probably only go up as he continues to age. Despite being a feared shooter, Nico doesn’t have the burst to truly attack off closeouts any more, and finishing at the rim (57.1% on field goals at the basket) is a challenge nowadays. Nico is not scoring the ball unless he’s getting wide open threes. It’s always useful to have everyone on the court be a threat to dribble, drive, and shoot, and at this point, Nico only fills one of those boxes – though he’s so good at that one box it alleviates some of the downside.

Summary

Nic seems like a lock to finish his career with the Clippers, and that’s something that Nico, his family, the Clippers’ organization, and fans all seem to be very pleased with. Nico’s role will likely continue to fade – the John Collins acquisition was a real sign that the Clippers know they can’t rely on Nico for huge minutes in big situations anymore – but his impact in the minutes he does receive will remain positive. The Clippers are better off with Nico on the roster, and he will be a joy to watch for as long as he’s on the team.

Clippers 2026 Player Preview: Nic Batum
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with Kris Dunn, the Clippers’ best perimeter defender.

Basic Information

Height: 6’3

Weight: 205 pounds

Position: Shooting Guard/Point Guard

Age: 31

Years in NBA: 9

Stats: 6.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 turnovers in 24.1 minutes per game across 74 games played (58 starts) on 43.9/33.5/68.2 shooting splits (3.0 3PA, 0.3 FTA) for 53.2 True Shooting

Contract Status: In the second year of a 3 year, $16.2M deal, making $5.4M this season with a non-guaranteed $5.7M next season

Expectations

Kris Dunn was a bit of a revelation last year for the Clippers. While people knew he was a good defender and figured he’d have a nice impact on the team, I’m not sure anyone thought that he’d start most of the season and be an All-Defense First Team caliber player that raised the floor and ceiling of the Clippers’ defense. With the Clippers adding more talent this summer and trying to boost their offense, it feels like Dunn’s role will be smaller this year, but his point of attack defense, hustle, and energy are still important, and he seems locked into a bench role where he can come in and wreak havoc against opposing reserve units.

Strengths

Kris Dunn’s best strength is obvious: he’s one of the very best perimeter defenders in the entire NBA. A menace on ball, quick enough to take on small guards and strong enough to body up bigger players, Dunn is even better off-ball, as his instincts, speed, and swift hands enable him to rack up deflections and steals. While Ivica Zubac had the biggest impact on the Clippers’ top-five defense last year due to position, Dunn was a rare perimeter defender who truly swung the team’s entire defense. Add to his actual skills the intangibles of effort, intensity, and ferocity and you have a special defensive talent.

While Kris Dunn has his weaknesses on offense (see below), he is capable in a couple of key areas. Notably, the fact that he used to play point guard means he’s a relatively strong ballhandler that is generally able to bring the ball up the floor and handle pressure. In a similar vein, while not a brilliant playmaker, Dunn can make easy reads in the flow of the offense and is a careful passer that does not turn the ball over much. These skills make Dunn particularly nifty in four on three situations where he can take advantage of numbers to make the simple read and get open looks. There is definitely utility with having Dunn out there on offense.

Weaknesses

Kris is a well below-average three-point shooter for a modern NBA guard, making just 33.5% of his triples last year while attempting three per game. And as meh as those numbers are, that was by far his best three-point shooting season when combing volume and percentage in his career. Despite being at least a slight threat from deep, Dunn is just not a good enough shooter to make defenses really pay attention to him from behind the arc, which cramps spacing and can result in frustrating offensive possessions when he misses several open looks in a short span. If he was a better three-point shooter, however, he’d be one of the better role players in the league, so there’s a reason the Clippers got him for cheap.

Outside of the outside shot, Kris is also sadly not a huge threat to score inside the arc. He doesn’t get to the rim much, and when he does, he’s a below-the-rim finisher that can’t consistently punish defenses around the basket. Kris actually shoots quite well at the rim (71.9% last year) but is judicious with his attempts because he knows he can’t finish over people. That lack of slashing is partially why Derrick Jones Jr. is a more effective offensive player even though he’s not a meaningfully better outside shooter. In short, Kris is just not much of a scoring threat in the halfcourt, and that’s a problem for a guard.

Summary

Kris Dunn was a mighty pleasant surprise last year, becoming an instant fan favorite due to his insane defense and fun personality. There’s no reason to think he can’t continue being beloved by the fanbase this year if he maintains his defensive impact off the bench and helps keep the Clippers’ defense afloat even with the influx of offense-first pieces. In just one season Dunn skyrocketed up my ranks of favorite Clippers’ role players, and I feel quite confident he will be just as entertaining this season.

Clippers 2026 Player Preview: Kris Dunn
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with Derrick Jones Jr., one of the Clippers’ likely starting forwards.

Basic Information

Height: 6’6

Weight: 210 pounds

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Age: 28

Years in NBA: 9

Stats: 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 turnovers in 24.3 minutes per game across 77 games played (55 starts) on 52.6/35.6/70.3 shooting splits (2.8 3PA, 1.5 FTA) for 60.9 True Shooting

Contract Status: In the second year of a 3 year, $30M deal, making $10M this season and $10.4M next season

Expectations

DJJ is coming off a strong 2025 campaign where he served as a starter or 6^th man on a defense-first Clippers’ team that won 50 games. DJJ’s point of attack pressure and switchabilty were key elements of that defense, with DJJ probably placing as the third-most important Clippers’ defender behind Ivica Zubac and Kris Dunn. It’s reasonable to assume that DJJ will have a similar campaign in 2026, playing in the mid-20s on most nights and contributing strong defense, above-the-rim play on offense, and the occasional triple to keep defenses honest.

Strengths

Even though he’s not a truly top-tier defender, defense is the strongest element of Derrick Jones’ game and is the main reason he’s a highly valuable role player. DJJ combines size, wingspan, quick hands, and solid lateral movement to be a pesky on-ball defender that can match up against quicker guards as well as larger wings. While not big or strong enough to guard centers or powerful forwards, DJJ is a versatile defender that is adept at both individual stoppage as well as team concepts. The Clippers were such an effective defense in 2025 in large part because they could put both DJJ and Kris Dunn on the court together to terrorize opposing ball-handlers and force turnovers.

DJJ is not just a defender, however. In 2025 he broke double-digits in scoring for the first time, and was extremely efficient as a play finisher. DJJ’s most noticeable plays on offense come on his soaring dunks in transition or on offensive rebounds, but in general he’s just a fantastic finisher who utilizes his insane athleticism to go over and around defenders. DJJ took 35.7% of his shots last season at the rim, and made those shots at an absolutely insane 75.2% rate. If he was at the basket, he was scoring. That slashing ability makes DJJ a more useful offensive player than his three-point shooting would indicate.

Weaknesses

DJJ’s most glaring weakness as a player is his three-point shooting. While 2025 marked a career-best in shot percentage from deep at 35.6%, DJJ’s lack of volume (2.8 attempts) and inconsistency as a shooter made him someone opposing teams were comfortable leaving open. DJJ made them pay sometimes, as he’s certainly not a non-shooter, but he never felt like someone the defense really cared about shooting threes. That made lineups with DJJ and another non-shooter (much less two other non-shooters) cramped spacing-wise and limited driving lanes.

Outside of the three-point shot, DJJ is just a limited offensive player with the ball in his hands. Given a straight runway to the rim he’s capable of attacking closeouts and finishing, but he’s not someone who can run a pick and roll, generate a shot from a triple threat position, or make plays for others. That’s not exactly a crippling weakness, as most role players aren’t adept at those elements at the NBA level, but it is something to consider when placing DJJ in certain lineups that are light on ballhandling or creation.

Summary

Derrick Jones Jr. is an ideal role player – he’s reliable, fits with the Clippers’ best players, has a reasonable contract, and is squarely in the prime of his career. The fact that he is such a steady rotation player on a terrific deal does make him a good trade chip, but it seems unlikely the Clippers would move DJJ unless they were getting a significant talent upgrade in return. I’d expect him to play a key role on the 2026 Clippers and to cement his status as one of the better supporting pieces of this era.

Clippers 2026 Player Preview: Derrick Jones Jr.
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers’ embattled superstar.

Basic Information

Height: 6’7

Weight: 225 pounds

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Age: 34

Years in NBA: 14

Stats: 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.9 turnovers in 31.9 minutes per game across 37 games played (all starts) on 49.8/41.1/81.0 shooting splits (5.1 3PA, 3.3 FTA) for 58.9 True Shooting

Contract Status: Signed for $50M this year and $50M next year in the middle of a three-year deal

Expectations

It’s hard to map out expectations for Kawhi Leonard. But considering he finally finished a season healthy and is going into this season healthy, I think it’s reasonable enough to have actual expectations this year. Kawhi’s numbers have declined every season he’s been a Clipper, but he’s still a star-level player and at age 34, should be able to perform like one for another couple of years. I think scoring in the low 20s, his usual handful of rebounds and assists, and good but not world-class defense are fair expectations for Kawhi at this stage.

Things are, of course, a bit complicated by the offseason reporting by Pablo Torre on the Clippers, Kawhi, and the company Aspiration. The NBA has launched an investigation into potential wrongdoing, and it’s already been stated that there probably won’t be updates until the All Star Break at earliest. On one hand, the investigation and the story could hang over the season like a cloud. On the other, the Clippers could maintain an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach and focus on proving “the haters” wrong. Kawhi in particular might have something to prove this year. That said, there is at least a possibility of Kawhi being suspended or otherwise punished if the investigation does find the Clippers and Kawhi circumvented the salary cap or otherwise broke league rules. We will just have to wait and see.

Strengths

Kawhi’s best skill at this point is his scoring package, a funny thing considering he came into the NBA as a defense-first (and some thought defense-only) player. Despite missing over half of the season and getting ramped up once he did return, Kawhi still averaged more than 21.5 points per game and scored at an efficient rate. Kawhi remains a deadly midrange shooter, with his size, strength, and footwork enabling him to get his 15-footer off consistently against almost any defense. That go-to shot is an incredibly important skill as a lead scorer in the NBA, and it’s partially why Kawhi is as feared as he is.

However, Kawhi has also improved his three-point shot over the years. For his Clippers’ career, he’s a 40.3% shooter from deep on 5.1 attempts per game – excellent efficiency and solid volume. That shotmaking has enabled Kawhi to play off-ball a significant amount, letting guards like James Harden handle more of the playmaking and on-ball duties. You’d wish Kawhi would shoot a tad more considering his efficacy, but he’s still excellent as a spot-up presence.

Finally, Kawhi is still a very strong defender. He does not ramp up his defense as much as he did earlier in his career, when he was one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history, but he’s still big, strong, and physical on-ball and a menace in passing lanes due to his wingspan and instincts. Kawhi is particularly good at helping at the rim and covering up for back-line flaws, pairing with Ivica Zubac to give the Clippers a robust rim defense. In games when he really locks in, Kawhi elevates from good to superb defensively, and hopefully he can do more of that this year with fewer responsibilities on offense.

Weaknesses

If availability is the best strength, lack of availability is the worst weakness, and Kawhi Leonard just has not been as available as the Clippers (and Kawhi) would like during his Clippers’ tenure. In his six seasons with the team, Leonard has played 57, 52, 0, 52, 68, and 37 games, for an average of 44 games per season. Basic math would tell you that is just over 50% of the NBA’s 82-game regular season calendar. Not only has Kawhi’s lack of availability made the team worse on a game-to-game basis, but it also mitigated the Clippers’ potential chemistry and has resulted in confusion across the organization at points. There are many, many reasons the Clippers have not had the success they thought they would when they signed Kawhi in 2019, but his shaky health has to be the number one factor.

Kawhi’s play has also dipped during his time with the Clippers. His scoring has declined every single season on the team, and his 2025 campaign saw Clippers’ tenure lows in rebounds, assists, minutes, and true shooting efficiency – though his numbers were more in line with his team averages once he was up to full strength. His advanced metrics reflect the decline as well, with his BPM falling from 8.9 in 2020 to 7.3, 6.1, 5.5, and then 3.1 last year. Per BPM, that made his first two years All-NBA first team caliber with his last season being just an All-Star performance. I think he can improve upon last season’s numbers due to a healthy offseason, but the days of him being an MVP-level player are probably over.

In terms of sheer on-court weaknesses, Kawhi’s biggest flaw has always been his playmaking, which is good but not great for a scorer of his caliber. The additions of Chris Paul and Bradley Beal on top of the presence of James Harden will mitigate that weakness to some extent, but it’s still present.

Finally, Kawhi no longer gets to the line like he used to. He had a free throw rate of 0.194 last year (he got to the line 0.194 times for every field goal attempt), the lowest of his career and far lower than in his prime. Again, those numbers might bounce back a bit after a healthy offseason, but it’s hard to be a truly elite scorer in the NBA if you don’t get to the line frequently.

Summary

Kawhi Leonard remains the Clippers’ most important player in terms of ceiling. If he can somehow stay healthy for most of the season and into the playoffs, they will probably be a very good team with a shot at a deep playoff run. If his campaign is once again marred by injury, the Clippers will probably be a pretty good regular season squad with no real shot at a postseason push. Right now, Kawhi is healthy and looks good, and that’s a terrific sign for the Clippers. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen throughout his six-year tenure, his availability can turn on a dime. The Clippers just have to do their best to keep him going and hope for one last season of superstar-level play combined with health.

Clippers 2026 Player Preview: Kawhi Leonard
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with Kobe Sanders, their second-round rookie on a two-way deal.

Basic Information

Height: 6’7

Weight: 203 pounds

Position: Small Forward

Age: 23

Years in NBA: Rookie

College Stats: 15.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.8 turnovers in 31.7 minutes per game across 33 games played (32 starts) on 46.0/34.2/79.5 shooting splits (3.6 3PA, 5.2 FTA) for 57.2 True Shooting

Contract Status: Signed to a two-way deal

Expectations

Late second-round rookies almost never have real roles on NBA teams, and that’s even more true of those on veteran teams with playoff aspirations. Kobe is no different. Thus, even though he’s 23 years old and not someone with long-term athletic upside, it’s hard to have any expectations for him this season. I’d expect Kobe to spend much of the season in the G-League and only get called up when the Clippers are dealing with injury issues. If he plays a lot of real minutes for the Clippers this year, something has probably gone very wrong.

Strengths

I wrote about Kobe when the Clippers took him on draft night, and none of his strengths have changed since then. For a guy who is truly wing-sized, Kobe has a solid handle and is an excellent passer. If his scoring and defense are good enough to stick in the NBA, he’s someone who you could legitimately run some offense through on a second unit, as he can make plays from the post or in the pick and roll. Kobe does have a real midrange bag, and again, that unlocks some real shot creation capabilities if the rest of his game rounds into shape.

Weaknesses

In the modern NBA, most wings need to be good at two things – catch-and-shoot threes and defense. Unfortunately, Kobe will have to prove his capabilities in both of those areas. He was a meh shooter from distance in college (albeit on decent volume), and as someone who played on-ball a lot, shifting to more of an off-ball approach will also be an adjustment. Kobe was not particularly athletic even in college, and will be a well below-average athlete at the NBA level, making defense a challenge. He does seem like a smart player, and if he can just be capable on defense while getting his three-point shot up to NBA speed, there’s a real player in there.

Summary

I was fairly agnostic about the Clippers’ picking Kobe in the draft, and I feel similarly over three months later. We probably won’t know much about Kobe as an NBA player after this year, but if he plays well in the G-League and impresses the coaching staff hopefully he’s able to garner himself a shot at the full roster next season.

2026 Clippers Player Preview: Kobe Sanders
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with Trentyn Flowers, one of the Clippers’ three two-way players.

Basic Information

Height: 6’7

Weight: 185 pounds

Position: Small Forward/Shooting Guard

Age: 20

Years in NBA: 1

Regular Season Stats: 1.8 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.0 assists, 0.0 steals, and 0.2 turnovers in 4.5 minutes per game across 6 games played (zero starts) on 36.4/0/100 shooting splits (4/11, 0/2, 3/3)

Contract Status: Signed to a two-way deal

Expectations

There are zero expectations for Flowers, who is a raw prospect that barely played for the Clippers last year (27 minutes total, 21^st out of 23^rd in total minutes on the 2025 Clippers) and is still just 20 years old. If anything, there’s actually some doubt about whether Flowers will make the team – beat reporter Law Murray has stated that Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders are secure in their two-way slots but that Flowers is not, and will have to beat out the Clippers’ Exhibit 10 signings in training camp. If Flowers does stick around, it’s safe to assume he will spend just about the entire year down in the G-League developing and will play similarly few minutes in the NBA this season.

Strengths

Trentyn’s biggest strengths at this point are his youth, size, and athleticism. He has the build of a true wing, which is rare enough on its own, and has the athleticism to hang around the NBA. Wings are the slowest position to develop at the NBA level, with most wing players not becoming truly effective until their mid-20s. Thus, Flowers’ rawness is not unusual.

It must also be said that Flowers shot pretty well from three in the G-League last year, making 38.5% of his attempts on 4.3 shots per game. That’s not huge volume (around 180 threes attempted total) but it’s something to build on. If Flowers can be a solid shooter at the NBA level, there might be a real role for him in the big leagues.

Weaknesses

While Flowers has talent, he is very raw, and is not particularly adept at several facets of high-level basketball, including ballhandling, playmaking, and defense. Flowers was able to score decently against G-League competition, but his handle is too sloppy to create against NBA-level defenses. He also gets lost on defense at a semi-frequent rate, which is something that coaches really, really don’t like. In short, he’s not ready for NBA minutes – and that’s ok.

Summary

Trentyn is very young (he’s almost exactly two years younger than the Clippers’ first round pick in 2025, Yanic Konan Niederhauser) and has some tantalizing upside. However, the Clippers do not have much invested in him, and two-way spots are turned over frequently. If Flowers continues to hone his game in the G-League and shows more polish, he could put himself in position for a full roster spot on the Clippers in the 2027 season. If not, the Clippers could easily move on from him, whether during the season or next summer. It would be nice if he became a long-term piece for the Clippers, but the odds are against him.

2026 Clippers Player Preview: Trentyn Flowers
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2026 Clippers continues with Jordan Miller, the Clippers’ most seasoned two-way player.

Basic Information

Height: 6’6

Weight: 195 pounds

Position: Small Forward/Shooting Guard

Age: 25

Years in NBA: 2

Regular Season Stats: 4.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.7 turnovers in 11.4 minutes per game across 37 games played (zero starts) on 43.3/21.1/80 shooting splits (1.0 3PA, 0.9 FTA) with 50.9% TS

Contract Status: Signed to a two-way deal

Expectations

It’s hard to have much in the way of expectations for two-way players, and Jordan Miller is no different. That said, the Clippers’ roster is an interesting place, with 11 locked-in rotation players that are a cut above the rest, two deep bench players on full deals (Cam Christie, Yanic Konan Niederhauser), and two depth two-way guys (Trentyn Flowers, Kobe Sanders). That leaves Miller along with fellow 2023 draftee Kobe Brown in a middle ground where there is a real possibility of minutes, for whom an extended role would probably require several injuries to key players. Thus, Jordan will probably play primarily in garbage time and spot minutes this season.

Strengths

Jordan is more or less unproven as an NBA rotation player, but his primary strength in Summer League and G-League is as a slasher on offense. Jordan has a knack for knifing into the paint and finishing once he gets there, as he can pull out all manner of little float, scoop, and push shots within 12 feet or so of the rim. Jordan is also capable of getting to the line, as he uses his body well to draw contact, and for a non-star player is adept at forcing shots in a manner that draws free throw whistles.

Realistically, as an NBA role player, Jordan’s free throw instincts and even driving are probably going to be less impactful than his defense. While I don’t think I’ve seen the level of defense I expected to as a prospect, Jordan is tall, long, quick, and has good hands in passing lanes, making him someone who could be an impact defender at the NBA level. Whether Jordan can be that guy is a different matter, but the tools and effort are there.

Weaknesses

There’s one key element that’s preventing Jordan from being a clear NBA player, and that is his three-point shot. While he was an ok shooter in college, it was on low volume. He’s similarly shot decently at the G-League level and in Summer League, but it’s either against poor competition or on a small sample size. In limited minutes in the NBA, he’s been left wide open from deep and been unable to make opponents play. If he can be a consistent three-point shooter, even if he’s somewhat below average (but just enough to be a threat), his likelihood of sticking in the NBA will increase exponentially. If that shot never develops it’s tough to see him having a meaningful NBA career.

Summary

On an aging and injury-prone team, there will probably be at least one stretch this season where Jordan Miller gets called into action. And when that happens, he needs to take advantage, because he’s hanging in the NBA by a thread right now. I like Jordan, and think his combination of defense, driving, and connective instincts make him a theoretically valuable player. Unfortunately, Jordan will turn 26 during the season, so it’s tough to call him a prospect. It’s now or never: I hope Jordan gets the chance to show what he can do and then takes advantage when he does get that opportunity. If not, his future on the Clippers and in the NBA is murky.

2026 Clippers Player Preview: Jordan Miller
Robert Flom