Back in 2023, when the Los Angeles Clippers acquired James Haeden, it initially appeared to be a disaster, to say the least. Harden’s debut game against the New York Knicks ended in a 111-97 loss. And making matters worse, there were 4 more in a row. But things took a different turn from here, with some extra effort from Harden. He devoted more time during the shoot around and practice to improve his chemistry with his new teammates. Results followed. The Clippers won their next five out of eight games, and at one point in December, they went 9-0, which was their longest winning streak in franchise history back then.

One important part of James’ integration into the LA squad was finding the groove with Kawhi Leonard who had to replace his running mate of five seasons, Paul George. And that quickly started to roll. “[He] makes the game a lot easier for me,” Leonard had said in November 2023. “Gets me wide open looks and that’s all I can ask for.” Not only on court but they formed a bond offcourt as well and as Leonard had pointed out, that was all built on trust.

“We could be transparent to each other if we are playing good or bad so I think it will be good moving forward,” Leonard had said. And it has been good. Night after night the two have shared the responsibility of carrying their side. In their latest matchup against the clippers, the duo put 49 points together on the scoreboard. But wait, was there a moment between the two during the game that looked like a disagreement? In the second half, James Harden came off strongly when instructing Kawhi Leonard. Leonard addressed the concerns after his 28-point performance.

In his eyes, it isn’t uncommon for them to have such interactions, nor will it be the last. But it’s not because they constantly disagree. Both Leonard and Harden are passionate about their chances of winning. To achieve their goals, though, communication is key.

“It’s needed. We had exchanges. That’s not the only exchange that we had in today’s game or throughout the whole year. So it’s about what we’re doing and what we not executing. We had words for each other there and you know you’re just playing basketball. It’s chemistry, it’s knowing that your brother got your back,” the Klaw said about the interaction.

It is a surprise, though. Kawhi Leonard is a lot of things. A lethal two-way threat, a proven playoff hero, and more. But his expressive side has never really been highlighted. Rather, it’s his stoic nature that, at times, baffles the NBA. So what helps him take the step with James Harden? It’s the Beard’s openness, the same thing that Leonard had pointed out two years back.

“It’s been pretty transparent since he’s been here. I haven’t seen any stars who don’t want to get better, coached, or be told what they’re doing wrong or what they’re doing well. It’s something we all needed to do. It’s good for our teammates to see it. It wasn’t just for us. It was for everybody on the floor,” Kawhi Leonard further commented.

Communication and accountability are qualities of a great team. Since Kawhi Leonard’s return, the Los Angeles Clippers have been soaring. Harden sees the change, and they both want to build a healthy environment for teammates to following their footsteps. Arguments are only hurtful if they are intended for that purpose. In this case, it’s meant to get on the same page to avoid errors in the future. Because much is stake, as they have only six games on their hands to avoid the play-in.

“Health is important,” Lue said. “But like you said, trying to get the top-six seed is very important as well, because you don’t want to go into the play-in game because in one or two games anything can happen. So that’s been our focus and our mindset and I give our guys credit. They’ve been doing a good job with that.” looks like Leonard is also focused just on winning, irrespective of how good the opponent is.

Kawhi Leonard doesn’t care about the standings

There’s only one story coming out of the Western Conference. NBA fans are wondering which teams occupy the top 6 spots. Even with each team having less than 10 games remaining, the table can still shift drastically. The Clippers’ victory tonight sees three teams tied with the same record. But there’s only one spot to fight for.

The sixth seed is what the Clippers, Grizzlies, and the Timberwolves are all after, given the Warriors have successful results from here on out. Being below means having to go through the excruciating Play-In Tournament. No team wants to play additional games before the playoffs.

Kawhi Leonard maybe wants at least the sixth seed. However, he isn’t shaken by how favorable their matchups might be. Even if the Clippers have to play the higher seeds first, The Klaw thinks it doesn’t matter.

“I do watch games but for me you know winning is whoever you put in front of you. So whoever it is you got to beat them to to win the ultimate goal,” Leonard said about seeding.

The playoffs are tiring and dictated by how prepared teams are. Playing the best teams at the very beginning not only thins the margin for error but also doesn’t give players much time to adapt to the intensity. Of course, players like Kawhi Leonard and Harden are well-versed in absorbing the pressure. So it’s fitting to see Leonard be unbothered about their seeding. What he wants is for them to be in the playoffs. After that, it’s about being the better team on that particular day.