Lakers and Clippers enter first season since 2018 without either franchise star

LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard both departed Los Angeles.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Because we're doing videos this year @TheAthletic https://t.co/YnClq7pGfd Via @LawMurrayTheNU on X

What happened: The Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers are competing in the 2026-27 regular season with neither LeBron James nor Kawhi Leonard on either roster, per Law Murray of The Athletic.

Why it matters: The two stars anchored the hallway rivalry after 2018, defining both franchises' championship windows and roster construction. Their departures leave both Los Angeles clubs reshaping their rotations and identities around new cores.

What to watch: The Pacific Division rivals continue their regular-season schedules as both clubs compete for Western Conference positioning with revamped lineups.

Sources

@LawMurrayTheNU 2026-10-24T18:54:41.306026+00:00

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