The Los Angeles Clippers were busy at the NBA trade deadline but the results weren’t very positive after.
In fact, the team went on a painful five-game losing streak after the deadline and fans were furious and beside themselves.
For a moment, it looked like they would fall again on Wednesday in a game against the Toronto Raptors.
But LA secured their second consecutive win and after the game, Kawhi Leonard spoke about the team’s chances of being champions.
According to Clippers writer Joey Linn, Leonard said, “Whenever I’m playing, I feel like we can win a basketball game.”
He noted that even when the team was losing they “were confident in ourselves,” which is something he thinks will help them in the future.
Kawhi Leonard was asked why the Clippers believe they can still be a championship team.
Kawhi: “Even when we lost those games we were confident in ourselves. And I’m on the floor. Whenever I’m playing, I feel like we can win a basketball game.”
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 9, 2023
The Clippers have definitely had a very confounding and frustrating season.
They got off to a slow start, mostly because Leonard did as well.
His ramp-up to playing full-time after more than a year away from the game was filled with stops and starts.
People were perplexed to see how long it took Leonard to play like his regular self.
But he’s been averaging 27.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists a game since the start of 2023.
Additionally, he is now participating for an average of 36 minutes per game.
That is a huge step up from the start of the season when he was typically just playing a bit more than 20 minutes.
Leonard isn’t the most talkative player in the NBA.
Therefore, when he makes a strong statement like the one above he obviously means it.
He thinks that his team can still win, especially if he is on the court.
Lately, he’s been playing expertly and playing a lot of minutes and that could really help the Clippers in the weeks and months ahead.
NEXT: Kawhi Leonard Has Dominated An Important Category In 2023
