The Clippers' confidence in trading Harden and Zubac comes from Leonard.

“Before Garland returns, I will hold the team together.” After today’s game, this statement from Leonard carries even more meaning.

With veterans leaving and newcomers still sidelined, the Clippers cruised to a big win against the Timberwolves away from home. Leonard pushed the game into garbage time in the last quarter. As one of the least effective stars during garbage time, Leonard missed four straight shots, reducing his shooting accuracy from 14/26 to 14/30.

Throughout the entire game, Leonard played 33 minutes, shooting 14 of 30, including 5 of 11 from three-point range and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line, finishing with a team-high 41 points, along with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals.

In the first two minutes, Leonard set the tone with three steals. He anticipated the opponent’s passing lanes to intercept at midcourt, snatched the ball away from Gobert, and then stole again in a one-on-one against McDan. This showcased the defensive prowess of a two-time Defensive Player of the Year at his peak.

The Clippers went on a 10-0 run that forced the Timberwolves to call a timeout, and then controlled the game from there. Leonard scored 12 points in the first quarter, 24 by halftime, and finished the third quarter with 32 points, operating at full capacity. Two three-pointers in the final quarter sealed the game’s outcome. If we talk about two-way dominance, he remains one of the best on the planet.

A somewhat surprising stat is that today marked Leonard’s fourth 40+ point game this season, something he never achieved in his first fourteen seasons. Previously, Leonard was known for pacing himself and rarely going all out for an entire game. But this season, he has taken on much more responsibility.

During the early season injury period, Harden led the team through tough times. Once Leonard returned, he switched to full-power output mode, scoring 41 points in one game, 45 in another, and tying Harden’s franchise record with 55 points in yet another.

This might not be his strongest career season—back in 2019 with the Raptors, Leonard truly showed what it means to be the ultimate single star. That season, he rested enough during the regular season, with teammates covering for him, allowing him to fully exert himself in the playoffs.

However, this season definitely counts as his heaviest workload. A disastrous 6-21 start gradually improved to the current 25-27 record. Averaging 28 points per game is a career high, 7.1 three-point attempts per game is also a personal best, and 2.1 steals per game leads the league and is his highest since 2015.

He and Harden have nearly succeeded in lifting the Clippers from the depths of the Western Conference to now ninth place. Because of this, Harden and Zubac’s departure is emotionally hard for Leonard to accept.

In recent interviews, Leonard has appeared quite downhearted. Especially regarding Zubac—he was already on the team when Leonard arrived, and they’ve been teammates for six years, sharing many ups and downs.

Leonard said, “It feels like losing a brother. During the NBA season, we spend more time with these players than with our own families, and we will miss seeing him in the locker room.”

The Clippers had been on the right track but now must start over overnight, something beyond Leonard’s control. Time will filter out those around you, and all Leonard can do is accept everything and keep moving forward.

Speaking about his new, younger teammates, Leonard said, “I’m older now, but maybe I can help them improve and ride along with their momentum for a while.”

Though he appears cold on the outside, his inner emotions are complex; joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are rarely shown openly. After today’s game, Leonard smiled — the happiest he’s been since the big trade.

Time will heal all the turmoil, and victories will solve all problems. What Leonard needs to do now is keep winning, no matter what the cost may be.