Streetlights over Spotlights: How the Clippers rebranded their culture

Streetlights over spotlights:

The Clippers are no longer the surprise team with no All-Stars that are led by their 6th man. The acquisitions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George turned the Clippers from the NBA’s underdog to the NBA’s title favorites.

With such rapid and drastic changes to the expectations, how can this team possibly maintain their “for the people in the back” culture? According to Paul George, it’s going to be simple.

After the Clippers defeated Memphis on Wednesday night, Paul George was asked postgame why his team is so unselfish. He responded by saying that “This is the environment Doc created, this is the environment they created all year long last year, and adding Kawhi and myself to this group, it’s the culture they had already and we’re just sprinkled into it and keeping it going.” (h/t Clips Nation)

The culture created by this Clippers team that started back on January 15th, 2018 against Houston, and was reiterated on March 4th, 2019 against the Lakers, is here to stay. The only difference now is that there are two superstar players who have entirely bought in to what’s transpiring on this side of Los Angeles.

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This didn’t happen by accident. Upon recognition of what they had begun building, Steve Ballmer and the front office began making a concerted effort to complete the roster with players who fit the culture being built.

Patrick Beverley played oversees and bet on himself by paying $1M to get out of his contract and return to an unknown role in the NBA. He has now signed a three year, $40M contract to be the starting point guard on the NBA’s title favorites.

After being traded for the third time in three years, Lou Williams was going to play out the final season of his contract with the Clippers and retire.

After a sit-down meeting with Doc, Lou was convinced that he was wanted by the Clippers and signed a three-year extension. He is now the favorite to win his third straight sixth man of the year award and solidify himself as a Hall-of-Famer.

Montrezl Harrell was considered a throw-in, to complete the Chris Paul trade. There were talks of him not even being brought into camp with the team. He is now coming off a career season in which he finished right behind Lou for sixth man of the year. He is set up for a potential $100M contract this offseason, and is playing a pivotal role on a contending team.

Ivica Zubac was an afterthought for a Lakers team that traded him for Mike Muscala. He now is thriving in his role as the starting center for the Clippers, after being given a $28M contract to stay.

This Clippers team is built on players who have had to work for everything they deserve. Just like the people in the back that Pat Bev claims they play for, this Clippers team has been handed nothing.

This group now marches into a historic season, and is led by a quiet assassin looking to bring the people in the back the first championship they’ve ever seen.