Nick Young, the 2018 NBA champion, has offered a surprising take on the Los Angeles Clippers’ sudden 15-3 surge. He bluntly asserted that the Clippers are the better team than the Los Angeles Lakers despite sitting below .500 in the Western Conference.
Nick Young Praises the Los Angeles Clippers for Their Impressive Winning Stretch
Speaking on Gill’s Arena, the former NBA champion praised the Clippers’ balance and defensive commitment while questioning the Lakers’ overall consistency. Young argued that the Clippers’ recent play reflects a clearer identity and stronger two-way effort, even if the standings do not yet show it.
“Right now, they’re better than the Lakers to me. It’s just like, they do more. They play defense. They play both sides,” Young said. “They got their two stars that they know what they’re going to do out there on the court. They’re not fighting for stardom. James lets Kawhi ball out when it’s his time, and Kawhi does the same.”
Young’s comments come amid a notable turnaround for the Clippers. After opening the season with a disastrous 6–21 record, Los Angeles has surged back into contention, winning 15 of its last 18 games. That stretch has lifted the Clippers to 21–24 and into the 10th spot in the West, firmly in the play-in mix.
Kawhi Leonard and James Harden have been central to the resurgence. Over his last 20 games, Leonard is averaging 29.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, while Harden has posted 24.8 points, 7.8 assists, and 4.2 rebounds during the same span. The Clippers have also seen improved production from their frontcourt, with Ivica Zubac consistently contributing double-doubles.
Defensively, the Clippers have held a slight edge over the Lakers this season, ranking five spots higher in defensive rating at 116.8 compared to the Lakers’ 117.8. That defensive stability was a key part of Young’s argument, as he emphasized the Clippers’ ability to compete on both ends of the floor.
The Lakers, meanwhile, remain in a stronger position in the standings at 28–17, fifth in the West, and have never dipped below .500 this season. After a brief 1–5 slump, they have steadied themselves by winning four of their last five games. Offensively, they still hold an advantage, posting a 117.9 offensive rating led by Luka Dončić’s league-leading scoring output.
Meanwhile, the head-to-head matchup favors the Clippers, who are 2–1 against the Lakers this season. The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Feb. 20, 2025, following the All-Star break, in a game that could add more clarity to Young’s bold claim.
While the standings still favor the Lakers, the Clippers’ recent surge and defensive identity have clearly caught the league’s attention.
