Look, let’s be real. If you’ve been following the clippers los angeles team lately, you know it’s been a rollercoaster that would make Six Flags jealous. We’re sitting here in mid-January 2026, and the vibes are—to put it lightly—chaotic. They’ve got this shiny new billion-dollar sandbox in Inglewood called the Intuit Dome, and for the first few months, it felt like it was cursed. They started the season 6-21. Seriously. Six wins. People were already calling for a complete fire sale, and then, because the NBA is insane, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden decided to turn back the clock.
It’s actually kinda funny. The Clippers are currently 17-23 after a massive January surge, including a recent win over the Wizards where Kawhi dropped 33 like he was back in 2019. But it’s not just about the wins. This is the oldest team in NBA history, with an average age of 33.2 years. You’ve got Chris Paul back for a second tour (well, until they waived him in December), Brook Lopez clogging the paint, and Nicolas Batum still doing Batum things at age 37.
The Intuit Dome Curse and the 6-21 Hole
The move to Inglewood was supposed to be a clean break from the Lakers' shadow. Instead, the first half of this season felt like a fever dream. Between injuries to Bradley Beal (out for the year with a fractured hip) and a sprained MCL for Derrick Jones Jr., the depth just evaporated. Honestly, watching them go 5-16 to start the year was painful. November was statistically the worst month in the history of the franchise.
But you can’t talk about this season without mentioning the elephant in the room: the Steve Ballmer and Pablo Torre situation. There’s an ongoing investigation into whether Ballmer used a company called Aspiration (now Catona) to funnel "no-show" money to Kawhi Leonard. Eleven investors are suing, claiming the salary cap was basically treated like a suggestion. Ballmer denies it, of course, but it’s a massive cloud hanging over the team. Despite all that, the team refuses to tank. Lawrence Frank has been pretty adamant that as long as Ballmer is writing the checks, they’re going for it.
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Why Kawhi and Harden Are Still the Story
James Harden just passed Shaquille O'Neal for ninth on the all-time scoring list. That happened a few days ago against the Hornets. Even at 36, the guy is putting up 25 and 8 over this recent 10-2 stretch. It’s wild because he’s doing it on a team where the spacing is sometimes "questionable" at best.
Kawhi Leonard, meanwhile, is in one of those zones where he doesn't look human. He had a 55-point eruption right before New Year’s. When he’s healthy, the clippers los angeles team looks like a dark horse contender. When he’s not, they look like a lottery team. That’s the tightrope this front office decided to walk when they traded away Norman Powell to get John Collins and doubled down on veterans.
The Youth Nobody Expected
While the old guys get the headlines, the real reason the Clippers haven't totally collapsed is the random emergence of guys like Yanic Konan Niederhauser. He’s a rookie center out of Penn State who just dropped a career-high 16 points. Between him and Jordan Miller, there's actually a tiny bit of "new blood" keeping the legs fresh for the veterans.
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- Ivica Zubac: Still the anchor. He's averaging over 10 rebounds a game and remains the only guy who seems to play every single night without an injury report update.
- John Collins: It’s been a rocky fit. He’s struggled to find his rhythm next to Kawhi, but he’s been forced into a bigger role since the Beal injury.
- The Bench: Kris Dunn has been a defensive menace, which is basically why Ty Lue keeps him on the floor for 20+ minutes even when he doesn't score.
The Western Conference is a bloodbath right now, and the Clippers are currently sitting 11th. They’re chasing the play-in tournament, but with the way they’re playing this month, nobody wants to see them in a seven-game series.
What’s Next for the Clips?
The trade deadline is looming in February. The big question is whether they add more veteran help or finally move some of the expiring contracts. If you’re a fan, you’re basically betting on Kawhi’s knees and Harden’s hamstrings holding up for another four months. It’s a gamble, but with the All-Star game coming to the Intuit Dome this year, Ballmer is going to do everything possible to keep this team relevant.
Actionable Insights for Following the Clippers:
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- Watch the Injury Report: This isn't just a cliché. For this specific roster, one tweak to Harden or Leonard literally changes their playoff probability by 40%.
- Monitor the Investigation: The NBA investigation into the Aspiration/Catona payments is expected to have an update around the All-Star break. Any sanctions could affect their future draft picks.
- Check the Home/Road Splits: The "Wall" at the Intuit Dome is real. The Clippers have been significantly better at home during this January run, and the atmosphere is finally starting to feel like a home-court advantage.
Whether they make a deep run or fizzle out in the play-in, this clippers los angeles team is at least never boring. They are the NBA’s ultimate "win-now" experiment, even if "now" is running out of time.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the team's rotation over the next six games before the deadline. If Ty Lue continues to lean on Niederhauser and Miller over some of the older vets, it might signal a slight shift in how the front office views their depth heading into the postseason. Pay attention to the defensive rating; when this team stays in the top 10 defensively, they win. When they slip, even 30 points from Kawhi can't save them.