Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard sees himself and his team out of the playoffs after a grueling seven-game series against the Denver Nuggets. A disappointing end to the season could mean a lot of things for the star. However, with Lakers fans also lamenting their team being eliminated, some fans shared reactions to Leonard's decision to join their hometown rivals from six years ago.
Before the 2019-20 season, there was no indication of where Kawhi Leonard would go next. In light of this, the Lakers were one of the teams that had their eyes set on the forward.
Although there were a lot of rumors suggesting that he would don the Purple and Gold, Leonard opted to join the Clippers and team up with Paul George instead. This didn't sit well with the fans, who were hoping to see LeBron James team up with Leonard.
Since the move to Los Angeles, Leonard has enjoyed no title success, and after his most recent loss, both the Clippers and the Lakers are out of the postseason. With this in mind, some unhappy fans shared their reactions to Leonard's exit while lamenting what could have been had he joined the Lakers.
"You could've had it all Kawhi," reacted one fan, sharing a graphic of James, Leonard, and Davis in Lakers' uniforms.
"Could’ve been me and you in the back court, and it’d still be rings," said another unhappy Lakers fan.
"Chose pandemic P," said another fan, mocking the forward's decision.
"Kawhi could of had 4 rings and Bron have 6 ring," lamented yet another fan.
"He still can," said one fan, remaining hopeful for the future.
The Lakers did go on to win the title the season he joined the Clippers. However, the team has been wildly inconsistent since then. Meanwhile, Leonard has had his struggles with consistency as he dealt with injuries, missing a large chunk of each season in the process.
This season was also a bit of a challenge for the 33-year-old as he continued his battles with injury. His tenacity has been impressive, however, it is also evident how vital his presence is for the team to succeed.
In 37 games in the regular season, Leonard put up averages of 21.5 points per game, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. In the playoffs, these numbers improved drastically as he recorded 25.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game against the Nuggets.
The loss was a product of a lot of shortcomings for the Clippers. With poor performances by their stars in Game 7, the team may have to reassess what needs to be done in the offseason.
Although they are committed to Leonard for the next two seasons, James Harden will have a player-option for the next year. With an opportunity to sign-and-trade the guard, the Clippers may consider every possibility to help the franchise win a ring in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have their plans for the offseason. With goals to acquire vital pieces to surround their star Luka Doncic, the Purple and Gold will also aim to return to championship form as soon as possible.
