LA Clippers choosing new formula for championship push

The Los Angeles Clippers believe their championship window is still wide open – and made big offseason moves to back it up for the 2025-26 NBA campaign. But the roster looks more like a retirement home than a title contender, with most players well past their prime and boasting over a dozen years of league experience. In fact, they’ve officially become the oldest team in NBA history, with an average age of 33.2.

The team will once again be led by Kawhi Leonard, who enters his 14th NBA season at age 34. The trouble for the former San Diego State star has been injuries – and lots of them. Last year, The Claw played just 37 regular season games and featured in all seven of the Clippers’ playoff outings.

Chris Paul is back in Los Angeles for a farewell tour, returning at 41 years old as James Harden’s backup. Harden himself will turn 36 before the season tips off. The Clippers also capitalized on Bradley Beal’s frustration with the Phoenix Suns, acquiring the 32-year-old guard after he agreed to a buyout.

The starting five will feature Leonard, Harden and Beal alongside Ivica Zubac and John Collins. Zubac, the 28-year-old Bosnian center, has held the starting role since 2021-22. Meanwhile, Collins, 27, joins as the team’s new power forward following a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz and Miami Heat.

Clippers’ bench loaded with veteran know-how

The second unit will be helmed by CP3, but two of the most important bench pieces are veterans Nicolas Batum and Brook Lopez – both drafted back in 2008 and entering their 18th seasons. Batum, 36, remains a solid perimeter defender and long-range shooter, while Lopez, 37, adds size and shooting range as a classic stretch-five.

Bogdan Bogdanovic is a bit of an outlier – he’s only played eight NBA seasons, but will be 33 before opening night. Kris Dunn, 31, will share backcourt duties with Paul, likely taking on the role of the second unit’s primary perimeter defender. Derrick Jones Jr., 28, will compete for minutes with Bogdanovic, despite starting 55 of the 77 games he played last season.

Clippers’ youth movement? Barely.

Head coach Ty Lue will likely have no choice but to rely heavily on his veterans, as the Clippers’ young talent pool is thin. Only three players on guaranteed contracts are under 26: Kobe Brown (25), Cam Christie (20) and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser (22). Additionally, they’ve signed Patrick Baldwin Jr. (22), Trentyn Flowers (20) and Kobe Sanders (23) to two-way deals.

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