Report: Clippers' preferential treatment of Kawhi, PG bothering some teammates
The Los Angeles Clippers enter Thursday's slate of games with the West's third-best record, but all is apparently not well inside the club's locker room.
Some players are struggling with the Clippers' "preferential treatment" of star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, league sources told The Athletic's Jovan Buha and Sam Amick.
For instance, the team canceled two walk-throughs this season and multiple players - who had been eager to work - believe that Leonard made the executive call, reports Buha and Amick.
Head coach Doc Rivers denied that the reigning Finals MVP influenced his decision.
Center Montrezl Harrell shed some light on the club's internal struggles following a 26-point home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this month.
"We're not a great team," Harrell told reporters postgame, including Clutchpoints' Tomer Azarly. "We just came together this year. We have two players that (weren't) a part of this team last year ... I think that's what we need to realize and wake up. We're a team that still has to figure out things that we need to do to win night in and night out."
The Louisville product reportedly isn't alone in his thoughts, sources told Buha and Amick.
Rivers apparently "directed his ire" at Harrell on multiple occasions the day after the 25-year-old's comments during a team meeting, Buha and Amick report.
Leonard and George are the Clippers' top-two scorers at 27.1 and 23.5 points per game, respectively.
Los Angeles has won seven of its last 10 games and returns to action on Friday against the Miami Heat.
HEADLINES
- Gilgeous-Alexander helps Thunder improve to 7-0 with win over Magic
- Giannis misses narrow loss to unbeaten Cavs
- Clippers rally from 26-point deficit vs. Spurs to win 1st game at Intuit Dome
- Curry returns in win over Wizards after 3-game absence
- Report: Popovich away indefinitely due to undisclosed illness