{"time":1776582345121,"blocks":[{"id":"mo5f9a28","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/a3957e8c-39b5-47f3-84dd-1f618ad77e03/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/a3957e8c-39b5-47f3-84dd-1f618ad77e03/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"a3957e8c-39b5-47f3-84dd-1f618ad77e03","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/a3957e8c-39b5-47f3-84dd-1f618ad77e03/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/a3957e8c-39b5-47f3-84dd-1f618ad77e03/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/a3957e8c-39b5-47f3-84dd-1f618ad77e03/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"KRkiBaEMas","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Play-In matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers became an all-time thrill match, and it wasn't even what many consider to be the actual playoffs. "}},{"id":"5-2V-r7bcW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Warriors ended up the victors in the 126-121 game despite the Clippers leading most of the game and much of that win for Golden State had to do with Steph Curry turning back the clock with a 35-point performance, but there was another Warriors great that had a dominant performance, just on the other end of the court."}},{"id":"L_JHPLL5YW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Draymond Green put on a defensive clinic in the fourth, particularly with the way that he contained Clippers star Kawhi Leonard. "}},{"id":"qmJ7_xnMqk","type":"image","data":{"caption":"Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) steals the ball from Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the final minutes of the game of the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images","withBorder":false,"withBackground":false,"size":"full","alignment":"center","linkUrl":"","file":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/39135c8b-11ec-48c0-823d-8e3d91c8ed8f.jpeg","width":4496,"height":2997}}},{"id":"EVbxCPai1_","type":"header","data":{"text":"Green Locks Down Leonard","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"vNTvazX9gx","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Leonard scored just two points in the fourth quarter, those points coming off a largely inconsequential dunk with just seconds left in the game. "}},{"id":"ekaHkx2pNb","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Green had Leonard clamped in the fourth quarter and after the game, with the sting of defeat fresh on his mind, Leonard couldn't help but praise Green, calling him a \"Hall of Fame defender\" and saying that Green made it difficult for him shoot at all. "}},{"id":"XeME6hVT8E","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) guards Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome."}},{"id":"tWbmIy_bGi","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":" Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images"}},{"id":"qEuwLZaEHS","type":"image","data":{"caption":"Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) guards Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images","withBorder":false,"withBackground":false,"size":"full","alignment":"center","linkUrl":"","file":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/05169767-d479-4443-92ec-f5a0b96b5abf.jpeg","width":5891,"height":3927}}},{"id":"b90lJSAhr1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Green clearly appreciated Leonard's respect toward him and made sure to express that the feeling was mutual. On a recent episode of his podcast the The Draymond Green Show, Green lauded Leonard and called him one of the best players in the league."}},{"id":"Y6jn2MgEfc","type":"header","data":{"text":"Green Responds With Praise","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"dMCG734dBA","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"“I don’t even talk junk to Kawhi Leonard because I have so much respect for him,\" Green said (via NBA Courtside). \"Kawhi is... [a] top 5 offensive player in our league, he’s also a top 5 defensive player in our league. This man had more steals than fouls on the season. Almost by double... Kawhi is special.\" "}},{"id":"zfy5BJKI9X","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/NBA__Courtside/status/2045162045964709921?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2045162045964709921","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"Draymond Green says he don’t respect everybody in the NBA, Kawhi Leonard is a guy he got the utmost respect for:\n\n“I don’t even talk junk to Kawhi Leonard because I have so much respect for him. Like, you talking a special, special player Kawhi is one of the better, top 5","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2045161868717707264/img/7BR4OAqlmQmMRfXh.jpg:large"}}}},{"id":"JV7QBo_gSh","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Green's comments extend well past just a reciprocation of praise from one NBA veteran to another and the implications of this incoming offseason make the content and timing of Green's comments very interesting. "}},{"id":"QivD1ljcZ_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"After James Harden and Ivica Zubac were both traded at the deadline, the Warriors were reportedly one of the teams interested in trading for Leonard. Such a trade never materialized, but that door could reopen in the offseason. "}},{"id":"FGOMYLYblW","type":"image","data":{"caption":"Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) is defended by Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (7) and forward Draymond Green (23) in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images","withBorder":false,"withBackground":false,"size":"full","alignment":"center","linkUrl":"","file":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/4d04e6ec-8cb7-414e-aaee-a00d67b941a4.jpeg","width":6021,"height":4014}}},{"id":"uXBP7cvT1_","type":"header","data":{"text":"Kawhi On The Warriors?","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"RvX7i7PNoN","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Clippers are trending towards a younger team and considering that they shipped off two members of their Big Three in service of a pseudo-rebuild, it's not unreasonable to think that trading Leonard is an option. "}},{"id":"o_qgm1eItb","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He'll be in the last year of his contract next season and owed over $50 million. Striking a deal with a team such as the Warriors could lessen the Clippers' salary cap and help push them to a full overhaul of the team should they move away from attempting to re-sign Leonard next offseason."}},{"id":"FYx0KIpTsD","type":"image","data":{"caption":"Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) extends for the ball against LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Robert Edwards-Imagn Images","withBorder":false,"withBackground":false,"size":"full","alignment":"center","linkUrl":"","file":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0413fe92-3bb3-4773-8b19-be06d6a63afa.jpeg","width":5507,"height":3671}}},{"id":"aKsPUIS0Xm","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"With the addition of that context, Green's comments might not have just been respect to Leonard, but a subtle recruiting pitch."}}],"version":"2.31.5"}

Jack Haslett

jackhaslett@RoundtableIO

Contributing Writer

Draymond Green Shows Huge Respect for Kawhi Leonard After Play-In Matchup

Lawrence Frank Assures Ty Lue’s Future With Clippers Is Safe

Ty Lue's Two Worded Reaction After Clippers' Season-Ending Loss to Warriors

Brook Lopez Shares What He's Learned About Being A Clipper

Darius Garland Speaks on LA Clippers Playing With "Odds Against Them"

Ty Lue Reveals the Key to Beating Trail Blazers in Next Matchup

Ty Lue is Proud of the LA Clippers For the Progress They've Made

Ty Lue Praises LA Clippers' Defense Against Sacramento Kings

Brook Lopez Says the Los Angeles Clippers Bad Start Was Good for Them

Ty Lue Wants More Aggressiveness Out of LA Clippers

Ty Lue Takes Responsibility for Clippers' Issues With Small Linueps

Ty Lue Details How Darius Garland Changed the Clippers' Season

Bennedict Mathurin Shows His Admiration for Kawhi Leonard

Brook Lopez Shares Thoughts on Kawhi Leonard's Amazing Scoring Streak

Darius Garland Shares How He Finds Joy in NBA Basketball

Darius Garland Shows Off Some Nice Handles

Derrick Jones Jr. Praises Darius Garland's Craftiness

Ty Lue Needs A Better Defensive Mindset From Clippers

Bennedict Mathurin Comments on Clippers Tough Schedule

Ty Lue Can't Speak on Kawhi Leonard's Injury Yet