A serious injury to Paul George should signify the end of an era for the LA Clippers
If Paul George has indeed suffered a significant injury and misses the NBA Playoffs, it should signify the end of an era for the LA Clippers.
At the beginning of the season, the LA Clippers, who were finally going to be healthy, emerged as a favorite among NBA fans to win the 2023 NBA championship. Without a clear-cut, overwhelming contender in either conference, it seems like this could finally be the year (if they could remain healthy) where the Clippers would finally play up to their full potential.
Even as they got off to an uneven start, the Clippers have shown flashes of brilliance of late, including that championship-level of play that many believed this team could be this season. However, all of that is now in serious jeopardy. Paul George suffered a lower leg injury in the team’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday night.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania has reported that there is a belief that George has suffered a serious injury that could potentially keep him out for the remainder of the regular season or even for the entire playoffs. George will undergo full testing and the full extent of the injury should be released soon.
Until then, though, there are many in and around the Clippers organization that will be holding their breath.
And you can’t help but wonder what the potential fallout may be if PG has suffered an injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the season (playoffs included).
The championship window has likely closed for the LA Clippers
If PG is indeed out of the season and this injury ends up blowing the team’s chances of winning a title this season, it will bring some big questions for this organization heading into the offseason. And the big question that this team will need to answer is whether or not this team’s core (of Kawhi Leonard and Pau George) has reached its peak.
In other words, has this team’s championship window closed?
Kawhi will be 32 by the time next season starts and PG will be 33. On the surface, you’d have to imagine that both of those players still have a couple of great years remaining but considering the injuries that they both have suffered over the course of their careers, you can also make the argument that their best basketball is already behind them.
Add in the fact that both Kawhi and PG could opt out of their current contracts after next season and it only brings out more questions or this team’s future.
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A few offseasons ago, the Clippers went all-in on Kawhi and PG. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, it hasn’t exactly worked out for the team. With one of the Clippers duo potentially suffering another significant injury, you can’t help but wonder if the end of an era in LA is near. Perhaps nearer than thought just 24 hours ago.