What is the Los Angeles Clippers' Starting Lineup?
The Clippers have reshuffled their starting rotation over the years. Currently, the Clippers starting lineup consists of James Harden, Kris Dunn, Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac.
Can this lineup stay healthy, and can head coach Tyronn Lue use them correctly? That remains to be seen.
| Position | Starter |
|---|---|
| Point Guard | James Harden |
| Shooting Guard | Kris Dunn |
| Small Forward | Norman Powell |
| Power Forward | Kawhi Leonard |
| Center | Ivica Zubac |
Point Guard - James Harden
The Clippers gave up starter Marcus Morris along with Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a pick swap for Harden, who had a falling out with Philadelphia general manager Daryl Morey and demanded a trade. Harden has slid into the starting point guard spot with Kris Dunn and Ben Simmons coming off the bench.
Shooting Guard - Kris Dunn
Kris Dunn came to the Clippers in the trade that originally sent Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz and has been a versatile piece of this starting lineup while also rotating at the point whenever Harden sits.
Small Forward - Paul George
A superstud when he was with the Pacers and the Thunder, George has appeared in only 189 of a possible 328 games during his four seasons with the Clippers because of injuries and load management. When healthy, George is among the best two-way players in the league.
Power Forward - Kawhi Leonard
A pure baller, as they say in the NBA, the soft-spoken Leonard also has been hampered by injuries (and load management) during his time with the Clippers, missing 199 games over the past five seasons (45% of possible games). His shooting percentage is 49.6 this season, as he has continued to shoot the rock well when healthy.
Center - Ivica Zubac
Zubac continues to take his game to the next level, currently ranking fourth in points and first on the team in rebounds. When it comes to controlling the boards, Zubac has no qualms about going deep and dirty to win the tight matchups.
Update: It was reported on January 16 that Zubac is dealing with a calf strain that will keep him sidelined for at least four weeks. Mason Plumlee has stepped into the starting center spot.
Who is on the Los Angeles Clippers’ Bench?
| Position | 2nd String | 3rd String | 4th String |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Guard | Kris Dunn | Ben Simmons | Patty Mills |
| Shooting Guard | Bogdan Bogdanovic | Norman Powell | Amir Coffey |
| Small Forward | Amir Coffey | Bogdan Bogdanovic | Kawhi Leonard |
| Power Forward | Derrick Jones | Nicolus Batum | Kobe Bryant |
| Center | Ben Simmons | Drew Eubanks | Nicolus Batum |
The bench has been a significant weakness in past seasons. Therefore, management sought to address it in the wake of yet another injury-plagued postseason. It has worked to a degree, as the Clippers rank 15th in the NBA with 35.4 points per game. Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a tremendous asset off the bench, while Derrick Jones gives Leonard the breather he needs. Ben Simmons could prove very valuable off the bench when the playoffs begin.
Who Is the Clippers’ 6th Man?
Bogdanovic has been the perfect addition to this roster and has been very valuable coming off the bench. He ranks fifth on the team in points per game and added a great flair to this offense. He has also been incredibly valuable for the Clippers whenever they needed to rest Norman Powell or James Harden.
Get to Know the Los Angeles Clippers Front Office
| Position | Staff Member |
| General Manager | Trent Redden |
| Head Coach | Tyronn Lue |
| Associate Head Coach | Larry Drew |
Who Is the Clippers' Head Coach?
Tyronn Lue was once one of the speediest players in the NBA when he played for the Lakers and he has been an NBA head coach since he replaced David Blatt in Cleveland in January 2016. He lasted 2.5 years with the Cavs and then was fired after an 0-6 start. Lue was an assistant to Doc Rivers before being promoted to head coach on Oct. 20, 2020.
Who Is the Clippers’ General Manager?
Redden was hired in 2017 as an assistant general manager and was promoted after Michael Winger departed to take over Monumental Sports, the parent company of the Washington Wizards.
Los Angeles Clippers FAQs
James Harden is the current leading scorer for the Clippers at 22.4 points per game. Norman Powell is right behind Harden at 22.1 points per game. Additionally, Kawhi Leonard has been solid, averaging 21 points per game, while Ivica Zubac averaging 16.6 points and 12.6 rebounds.
Bill Walton, Bob McAdoo, Ernie DiGregorio, Danny Manning and Randy Smith are considered the best players in franchise history. There's also a case to be made for players like Elton Brand, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and Paul George.
Author
Robert B. Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of the Gambling.com Group team. In his spare time, he runs the largest sports meetup group in Orange County, CA, actively participating in every sport imaginable. He is also a published author of five thriller novels, all available on Amazon.
