The Los Angeles Clippers are looking to bounce back from their last result, a 120-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets on 2025-05-03.
What happened?
Darius Garland, a two-time NBA All-Star, was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers prior to the deadline last season. He played just 19 games for the team, averaging 19.9 points, 6.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per performance. Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report recently named Garland as the player on the Clippers with the most to prove next season.
Why it matters for Los Angeles Clippers
Garland will have to prove to his new team that he’s still an All-Star-caliber player capable of running an elite offense. If he can do that, the decision to trade for him will age well for the Clippers. But if not, there will likely be some regrets. In 2024-25, Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 40.1 percent from long range.
What comes next?
The Clippers are looking to improve their recent form, which has seen them lose their last two games, with a record of 2W-0D-3L in their last five games. Garland has said that he doesn’t think he has anything to prove next season, but he will still need to perform well to justify the trade. The Clippers will be hoping that Garland can maintain the form he showed in his 19 games with the team last season, where he hit 43.8 percent of his triples. And with the new season approaching, the Clippers will be looking to make a strong start, and Garland will be a key player in their bid to succeed. So, the pressure is on Garland to deliver, and the Clippers will be hoping that he can live up to his potential. But for now, the focus is on the upcoming season, and the Clippers will be looking to make a push for the playoffs, with Garland leading the charge.