Coming into the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Clippers were picked by many to be towards the bottom of the Western Conference. Paul George signed a max contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency, Russell Westbrook was traded for Kris Dunn, and PJ Tucker was waived. The Clippers were left with a duo of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, where the status of Leonard was still in doubt due to consistent knee inflammation stemming from the end of the 2024 season.