The Los Angeles Clippers traded away both Ivica Zubac and James Harden in shocking trade deadline deals, opting to get younger and add draft capital to one of the oldest rosters in the NBA. Even with all the success they've been having, the Clippers sold high and emphasized their future.

While the Clippers did trade away two of their three best players, they didn't trade away their best, as Kawhi Leonard continues to play at an MVP-level. Since the start of 2026, Leonard has averaged 28.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. Now with the departure of Harden and Zubac, he's seemingly taken it to another level.

In the second game since the Clippers moved on from both Zubac and Harden, Leonard poured in 41 points and lifted LA to a massive 115-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. While he got some help, it was a game mainly controlled by Leonard offensively.

After the win, head coach Ty Lue praised his star player, who has stepped up in the past two games with a weakened supporting cast as trades are finalized and players return from injury.

"Yeah, I mean, just getting to his spots, you know, was huge for us. The way they played, you know, as far as off our dribble stuff, he was able to turn the corner to get to his spots, you know, made it easy," Lue said.

Leonard shot 14-of-30 from the field and 5-of-11 from three-point range, outscoring Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle combined. Factor in his four steals and eight rebounds, and he was the determining factor in a Clippers win.

"We gave him a moving slot cut to get out so he can, you know, create all that space. Once he gets to a spot, you know, it's hard to guard, you know, so I thought he did a good job playing with pace and getting to his spots," Lue added.

At 34 years old, it's fair to say that Leonard is no longer in his prime as a player, specifically athletically. However, he's shooting nearly 20 shots per game, a career-high in three-point attempts, and has helped lead one of the most improbable in-season turnarounds in recent history.

It'll be close, but if Leonard can hit the 65-game threshold for awards, his play should help him land on an All-NBA team, which he last did in 2024, earning All-NBA Second Team honors.

Luckily, help is on the way, as Bennedict Mathurin, Darius Garland, and Isaiah Jackson should all be available after the All-Star break. But, if this team wants to make it out the play-in tournament, Leonard is the player they'll need to lean on.