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Nick Young MOCKS Kawhi Leonard for demanding better talent on the Clippers
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- Nick Young MOCKS Kawhi Leonard for demanding better talent on the Clippers
(© Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images/© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)
"Superstars" in the NBA are typically expected to set the tone for their respective teams - inspiring teammates through their production and intensity. Kawhi Leonard once embodied that standard, but in recent years, his hunger, effort and overall determination have declined significantly.
So, when the two-time Finals MVP subtly threw his current teammates under the bus by urging them to bring "better talent" to the team, Nick Young was taken aback by what he viewed as surprising audacity from a player who had been unreliable, frequently unavailable, and nowhere near his prime form.
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Nick Young gets shocked by Kawhi's audacity
Though the Clippers have opened the 2025-26 season as one of the worst teams in the league, there was an expectation that Leonard's return would help stabilize the roster and elevate their winning prowess.
However, when the Clippers faced their city rivals, the LA Lakers , they were humbled with a 17-point loss. One of the primary reasons for the team's struggles was Kawhi's underwhelming performance in the first half, during which he scored just nine points and had a negative plus/minus rating of -11.
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Additionally, Young pointed out that Leonard scored a team-high six points in the fourth quarter only when the game was decided in favor of the Lakers, highlighting how "The Claw" failed to show up when his team needed him; instead, he was determined to attain points to stabilize his scoring average.
On an episode of the "Gils Arena Show," "Swaggy P" further mocked Kawhi for demanding to get better talent on the team, when he himself has been far from a reliable player, and instead of taking accountability and pulling up his socks as a veteran, is willing to throw other players under the bus.
"I know they feel that way about Kawhi. Get his a– cooked by 30 in the first quarter, he's gonna say, 'We need better talent,'" Young said. "**** had nine points until five minutes left when he said, 'You know what? Let me try to get my average.'"
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Kawhi Leonard needs to lead the Clippers better
Although there is a long-standing belief that a fully engaged and healthy Kawhi remains one of the best two-way forces in the league, capable of challenging elite scorers and affecting the game on both ends, the reality paints a different picture. The six-time All-Star has struggled to stay healthy for extended stretches, and even this season has already missed 10 games.
Throughout those absences, James Harden has often carried the load alone, fighting to keep the Clippers competitive while one of their cornerstone stars watches from the sidelines.
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More notably, Nick Young's mockery signals a broader shift; Leonard no longer commands the same respect he once did. Sympathy for his injuries has declined, and now many believe that had Kawhi wanted to change the narrative about himself, he would have shown much greater zeal to be on the court for his team, which is craving success rather than continuing to stay unreliable and on the sidelines.
With time clearly not in his favor, it now remains to be seen if the two-time Finals MVP can salvage his pride in the media circuits, or will he continue to get slandered for his absence even in the 2025-26 season, because clearly, Young isn't the only one who is tired of Kawhi's antics .
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
