The Games Kawhi Might Miss — And Why They Could Define the Clippers’ Season

While most of the headlines around the Los Angeles Clippers should be focused on their championship aspirations for the 2025–26 season, much of the attention has shifted to something far less ideal: the ongoing NBA investigation into Kawhi Leonard. What began as whispers of an unusual sponsorship deal has quickly evolved into a league-level probe involving one of the Clippers’ most important stars.

The league’s concerns surround Leonard’s $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal with Aspiration, a now-defunct green finance startup with ties to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. At the center of the controversy is whether the deal was simply a marketing agreement — or a way to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap.

While the investigation is still ongoing, one reality is becoming clear: Kawhi Leonard may not be available for several important games, either due to a suspension, team decisions to hold him out, or other forms of precaution. For a franchise still chasing its first NBA title, the impact of Kawhi’s potential absence cannot be overstated.

Why Kawhi’s Absence Hits Harder This Time

Missing a superstar is never ideal, but for the Clippers, it’s particularly dangerous right now. The team has built its roster and entire system around Leonard being not just a two-way force, but a stabilizing presence on both ends of the floor.

When Leonard is unavailable, the Clippers don’t just lose scoring — they lose structure. His presence allows other stars like James Harden and Paul George to slot into more natural roles. Without him, the entire rotation begins to shift into uncomfortable territory.

In previous seasons, Leonard has missed chunks of time due to injury. But this time, the issue is off the court, and it comes with less predictability. There’s no medical timetable. There’s no expected return date. Just silence — and that makes it even harder for the Clippers to plan ahead.

Crucial Games in the Early Season Without Kawhi

If the Clippers are without Leonard at the beginning of the season, they will immediately face matchups that are more than just regular-season battles — they’re tone-setters.

The season opener is scheduled against the Utah Jazz, a team that continues to grow in confidence and talent. For a Clippers squad hoping to come out strong, doing it without their best player complicates everything. The Jazz’s aggressive guard play and improving depth make them a dangerous early opponent.

Shortly after, the team travels to Phoenix to face the Suns, who will likely field a full-strength lineup led by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. That’s a game where Kawhi’s elite perimeter defense would be crucial. His absence could turn a tightly contested game into a steep uphill battle.

The road trip continues with matchups against Denver and Dallas — two Western Conference powerhouses that could expose LA’s defensive vulnerabilities without Leonard. These are games with long-term playoff implications, even if they happen early in the year.

James Harden’s Role Becomes Heavier — And Riskier

If Kawhi is out, the natural reaction is to give more responsibility to James Harden. But this solution creates its own set of problems.

Harden played over 35 minutes per game last season, shouldering much of the offense while also serving as a secondary playmaker and floor general. While effective early in the season, signs of wear showed late in the year and into the postseason. Now entering the final stretch of his prime years, Harden’s ability to handle that level of workload again is a growing concern among coaches and analysts alike.

Overreliance on Harden isn’t just a question of stamina — it’s a question of rhythm. When he’s forced to do everything, the offense can stagnate. Teammates become too reliant on isolation plays and step-back threes. If the Clippers fall into that pattern, it could create issues that last even after Leonard returns.

Paul George Faces Increased Pressure — Again

When Leonard is off the floor, Paul George becomes the team’s primary scorer and go-to defender. While George is more than capable of filling that role on any given night, sustained pressure to carry the team over a stretch of games has proven to be a challenge in past seasons.

George thrives as a complementary superstar — someone who can dominate in spurts without being the only engine driving the machine. But when the spotlight turns fully on him, his efficiency tends to drop, and so does the team’s ceiling. With Leonard possibly sidelined for weeks or longer, that spotlight may return far too soon.

Role Players Caught in the Crossfire

The ripple effect of Kawhi’s absence doesn’t stop at the stars. It crashes down onto the supporting cast.

Players like Terance Mann, Norman Powell, and Bones Hyland will all be asked to do more. In theory, this is an opportunity for development. In reality, the added pressure could stretch their roles beyond what’s sustainable.

The Clippers have seen this story before. In past seasons, they leaned heavily on veterans like Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris Sr., giving them roles that exceeded their ideal fit. Those experiments started well but ultimately ended in reduced minutes and playoff benchings. The same risk now applies to the current rotation.

Internal Chemistry and Coaching Adjustments

Head coach Tyronn Lue has always preached adaptability, but this situation will test his flexibility like never before. Without Kawhi, Lue will have to juggle rotations, adjust defensive schemes, and reinvent offensive spacing. Doing that in the middle of a competitive Western Conference schedule is a tall order.

Beyond tactics, there’s the issue of locker room chemistry. Prolonged absences of a star can affect morale, leadership dynamics, and long-term cohesion. With Leonard under investigation — and not just injured — the mystery surrounding his situation adds a level of discomfort that injuries usually don’t.

Long-Term Implications and Reputation Damage

Even if Leonard returns midseason or is cleared of any wrongdoing, the Clippers will have spent a significant portion of the year in limbo. That’s the kind of instability that affects playoff seeding, trade deadlines, and locker room energy.

There’s also the issue of optics. The Clippers have long tried to rebrand themselves as a well-run, disciplined, championship-chasing organization. But controversies like this — especially ones involving league investigations and financial scrutiny — risk undoing years of cultural progress.

Should the investigation lead to sanctions, suspensions, or fines, it will affect how free agents, agents, and sponsors view the franchise. The damage goes beyond the box score.

Final Thoughts: A Tipping Point for a Franchise at the Crossroads

The Kawhi Leonard investigation could not come at a worse time for a franchise desperate for postseason validation. Whether Leonard misses five games or fifty, the Clippers’ identity will be challenged — and possibly reshaped — in the months ahead.

His absence threatens more than just the standings. It risks placing unsustainable pressure on James Harden, reawakening concerns about Paul George’s durability, and forcing role players into oversized shoes. More than that, it tests the patience of a fanbase that’s already lived through years of “what ifs.”

As the NBA’s investigation continues in silence, the Clippers must navigate a schedule that won’t wait. Every game without Kawhi Leonard could inch them further from the goal they’ve been chasing for years — and closer to a reckoning they hoped they had avoided.