Numbers lie. Or, at the very least, they tell half-truths. If you just glance at the Western Conference standings on your phone, you'll see a team hovering around the .500 mark, currently sitting at 17-23 after a solid win against Washington. But if you actually dig into the los angeles clippers stats for this 2025-26 season, you realize we're watching one of the weirdest experiments in NBA history.
This team is old. Like, "oldest team in NBA history" old, with an average age of 33.2 years.
Honestly, it shouldn't work. On paper, a roster featuring James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, and Brook Lopez sounds like a 2K fantasy draft from 2018. Yet, here they are, grinding out games in the brand-new Intuit Dome, defying the "washed" allegations one box score at a time.
The Kawhi and Harden Engine: High Usage, High Stakes
Let's talk about the heavy hitters. Kawhi Leonard is currently averaging 28.1 points per game. That’s elite. What's even more impressive is his efficiency; he's shooting 50.1% from the floor while being hounded by every team's best defender. He’s also grabbing 6.4 boards and snatching 2.2 steals a night. When Kawhi is on the floor, the Clippers look like a contender. When he's not? Well, you've seen the 20-point blowouts.
Then there's James Harden. The Beard is still doing Beard things, putting up 25.8 points and 8.0 assists per game. He’s taking about 9 threes a game and hitting them at a 36% clip. Sure, the turnovers are still there—averaging about 3.6 a game—but his ability to manipulate a pick-and-roll with Ivica Zubac is basically the only reason the Clippers' offense hasn't bottomed out.
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Individual Player Impact (Season Averages)
- Kawhi Leonard: 28.1 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 2.2 SPG | 50.1 FG%
- James Harden: 25.8 PPG | 8.0 APG | 4.8 RPG | 89.3 FT%
- Ivica Zubac: 14.8 PPG | 10.7 RPG | 1.0 BPG | 60.6 FG%
- John Collins: 13.1 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 41.2 3P%
- Derrick Jones Jr.: 10.4 PPG | 1.1 BPG | 55.6 FG%
The addition of John Collins (acquired for Norman Powell) has been a sneaky win. He’s stretching the floor better than anyone expected, hitting over 41% of his threes. In a lineup that can sometimes feel stagnant, his verticality and outside shooting are oxygen.
Los Angeles Clippers Stats: The Advanced Analytics Gap
Here is where it gets kinda dicey. The Clippers' Offensive Rating sits at 116.5, which is 12th in the league. Not bad, right? But their Defensive Rating is 117.5, ranking them 22nd.
That -1.1 Net Rating is the story of their season.
They play slow. Like, really slow. Their Pace is 95.9, which is 28th in the NBA. This is a deliberate choice by Tyronn Lue. When you have a roster this old, you don't want to get into a track meet with the Oklahoma City Thunders of the world. You want to walk the ball up, hunt for a mismatch, and let Harden or Kawhi cook in the half-court.
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What the "Four Factors" Tell Us
- Effective Field Goal %: They are middle of the pack. They rely heavily on mid-range jumpers and free throws rather than a barrage of corner threes.
- Turnover Percentage: Surprisingly decent for a team with Harden and CP3, though the second unit tends to get sloppy.
- Offensive Rebounding: Ivica Zubac is a monster here. He’s averaging 3.5 offensive rebounds per game, giving this team second chances they desperately need.
- Free Throw Rate: This is their bread and butter. Harden is still a master at drawing contact, averaging 8.6 free throw attempts per game.
The "Point God" and the Bench Mob
It is wild to see Chris Paul back in a Clippers jersey in his 21st season. He’s not the guy who’s going to give you 20 and 10 anymore. He’s playing limited minutes, but his 3.3 assists per game and veteran leadership are keeping the bench units from imploding.
The depth is... interesting. You have Brook Lopez providing rim protection in spurts (1.0 blocks) and Kris Dunn playing the role of defensive pest with 1.5 steals per game. Bogdan Bogdanović hasn't quite found his rhythm yet, shooting only 33.3% from deep, which is a concern. If he can't find his shot, the floor spacing for the starters becomes a nightmare.
Why the Intuit Dome Effect Matters
People keep talking about the "Wall" at the new Intuit Dome. Does it actually help? The stats say maybe. The Clippers are shooting slightly better at home, but their attendance has been a bit up and down, ranking 17th in the league.
More importantly, the schedule has been brutal. They had a massive losing streak in November where they dropped six in a row, including a heartbreaker to the Heat. But they've turned it around lately, winning six of their last seven games. That momentum is real.
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Misconceptions About the "Old" Clippers
A lot of people think this team is a defensive sieve because of their age. That's not entirely true. While their overall rating is low, their Post Defense is actually top-tier. With Zubac and Brook Lopez, teams aren't scoring easily in the paint.
The problem is the perimeter.
They struggle with "blow-bys." Faster, younger guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Ja Morant tend to get past the first line of defense, forcing the bigs to help and leaving corner shooters wide open. That's why their defensive stats look so lopsided.
Actionable Insights for Clippers Fans
If you're tracking this team for the rest of the 2026 season, keep an eye on these specific metrics:
- Kawhi's Minutes: If he stays under 34 minutes and keeps the PPG above 25, they have a shot at a top-6 seed.
- Three-Point Volume: They need to get closer to 35 attempts per game. Right now, they rely too much on "hero ball" inside the arc.
- Second Unit Net Rating: When Harden rests, the lead often evaporates. Watch if Ty Lue starts staggering Chris Paul and Harden more effectively.
- Transition Points Allowed: This is the "kill shot" for the Clippers. If they can keep opponent fast-break points under 12, they usually win.
The 2026 Clippers are a team built for the playoffs, not the regular season. They are betting that in a seven-game series, half-court execution and veteran savvy will beat youthful legs. Whether that's a brilliant strategy or a desperate gasp remains to be seen, but the numbers suggest they aren't out of the fight yet.
Check the injury reports, monitor the pace, and don't count out the old guys just yet.