As this season comes to a close, both Los Angeles teams find themselves in the playoff conversation yet again. The Lakers, led by LeBron James and Luka Dončić, are looking to prove they can still contend for another championship. Meanwhile, the Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard at the helm, are determined to finally break through and bring home their first title. Both teams have the talent, but health and consistency will be the deciding factors. Could this finally be the year they meet in the postseason? Fans have been waiting for that moment, and if it happens, it would be a historic clash for the city of Los Angeles.
When you think about NBA teams making the playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers are always in the conversation. They’ve been a dominant force in the league for decades, with a legacy that stretches from their Minneapolis days to their dominance in Los Angeles. Winning isn’t just a goal for the Lakers—it’s expected. Generations of fans have watched legends like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and now LeBron James carry the team to championship after championship. Making the playoffs has always been the standard, and anything less is considered a failure.
Then there are the Clippers. For years, they were an afterthought in their own city. While the Lakers were stacking banners, the Clippers were just trying to stay relevant. They spent decades as the team that couldn’t get out of its own way, with bad management, bad draft picks, and bad luck keeping them stuck at the bottom. But over the last decade, that narrative has changed. The Clippers are no longer just the Lakers’ little brother—they’ve built a real identity and become a consistent playoff team.
The Lakers have made the postseason in almost every era, rarely missing out. The Showtime era of the ‘80s saw them dominate the league, making eight NBA Finals and winning five championships. The early 2000s brought another golden age with Shaq and Kobe, delivering a three-peat from 2000 to 2002. After a short slump, Kobe led them to two more titles in 2009 and 2010 alongside Pau Gasol. Even when the team struggled in the mid-2010s, they bounced back as soon as they brought in LeBron and paired him with Anthony Davis, winning the 2020 championship in the bubble.
Despite all the success, the Lakers have had their rough patches. Missing the playoffs five straight times from 2014 to 2019 was a shock to the franchise. Those years were filled with coaching changes, failed roster moves, and an identity crisis. But with LeBron and Luka Dončić, they appear to have reestablished themselves as a playoff force, proving that even when they fall, they never stay down for long.
The Clippers’ history couldn’t be more different. From the time they moved to Los Angeles in 1984 until the early 2010s, they made the playoffs only five times. They were the definition of a struggling franchise, with years of poor decisions under Donald Sterling’s ownership keeping them stuck at the bottom of the standings. Even when they did make the playoffs, they never made it far.
Everything changed when they drafted Blake Griffin in 2009. Suddenly, the Clippers had a star, and when they landed Chris Paul in 2011, “Lob City” was born. With Griffin, CP3, and DeAndre Jordan, the team became must-watch basketball. They made the playoffs every year from 2012 to 2017, though they frustratingly never got past the second round. Despite all the regular-season success, they could never quite break through when it mattered most.
That breakthrough finally came in 2020. With Kawhi Leonard leading the way, the Clippers reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. It was a huge moment for the team, even though Kawhi’s injury kept them from advancing to the Finals. Since then, they’ve remained in the playoff mix, continuing to chase that elusive first championship.
Here’s the thing folks: Both teams are set up for continued playoff runs. The Lakers have LeBron and Luka Dončić, while the Clippers have Kawhi. The biggest challenge for both teams is health—injuries have been a recurring issue, and their title hopes depend on their stars staying on the court.
The Lakers, the mission never changes: win another championship. However, for the Clippers, it’s about proving they can finally win one. The dynamic in L.A. basketball has shifted over the years, but one thing is for sure—the Clippers are no longer just the “other” team. They’re here to stay, and every season adds another chapter to their growing legacy.
With that… They have never faced each other in the playoffs even though they came close in 2020. Will it finally happen this year? Only time will tell!
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!