The Denver Nuggets are the defending NBA champions with a 2023 title and feature MVP Nikola Jokic, while the LA Clippers are a perennial contender with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George but have never won a championship. The Nuggets have superior recent playoff success and individual star power, while the Clippers remain a strong Western Conference competitor.
Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
2023 NBA Champions led by MVP Nikola Jokic with balanced scoring and offensive efficiency.
Western Conference competitor with two All-Star wings but no championship history
NBA Championships. Current MVP on Roster. Western Conference Finals Appearances (Last 5 Years). Playoff Win-Loss Record (2023-2024 Season). Average Points Per Game (2023-2024 Regular Season). All-Star Players on Roster. Year Franchise Founded
The Denver Nuggets are the superior team as of 2026, with Nikola Jokic's MVP-caliber play, a recent championship pedigree, and proven playoff success making them the Western Conference's top contender. Choose the Nuggets if you want to follow the most dominant team with the best individual star; choose the Clippers if you prefer a secondary contender with strong two-way talent and championship aspirations despite recent playoff struggles.
Denver Nuggets: 113.8 | LA Clippers: 115.2
Denver Nuggets: 107.2 | LA Clippers: 110.5
Denver Nuggets: 1 (2023) | LA Clippers: 0
Jamal Murray / Paul George Assists (2025-26)
Denver Nuggets: 7.8 (Murray) | LA Clippers: 9.1 (PG)
Denver Nuggets: 37.2% | LA Clippers: 37.2%
Denver Nuggets: $182M | LA Clippers: $188M
Denver Nuggets: 33.6 PPG | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 112.8 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 57-25 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 27.8 years | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 118.3 | LA Clippers: 119.8
Denver Nuggets: 5 (all 5 years) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: +7.7 | LA Clippers: +7.7
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (MVP) | LA Clippers: Kawhi Leonard (Elite 2-Way)
Denver Nuggets: 28.4 | LA Clippers: 22.1
Denver Nuggets: 37.8% | LA Clippers: 39.2%
Denver Nuggets: Finals (2024) | LA Clippers: Second Round (2024)
Denver Nuggets: Away - Denver, CO | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 42.9% (6-14 FG) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 50% (2-4 3P) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 90% (9-10 FT) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: Jokic 3P (0:08 remaining) - 125-126 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 1 (2024) | LA Clippers: 0
Denver Nuggets: 35-18 | LA Clippers: 31-22
Denver Nuggets: 113.8 | LA Clippers: 114.5
Denver Nuggets: 108.9 | LA Clippers: 110.2
Denver Nuggets: 50.1% | LA Clippers: 47.3%
Nikola Jokic vs Kawhi Leonard True Shooting %
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic 63.4% | LA Clippers: Kawhi Leonard 57.8%
Playoff Finals Appearances (Franchise History)
Denver Nuggets: 3 (2023, 2024, 2009 runner-up) | LA Clippers: 1 (2021)
Nikola Jokic vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Best Player Comparison)
Denver Nuggets: 29.1 PPG / 9.0 APG / 66.3% eFG% (Jokic) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 117.3 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 28-16 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: $195.7M | LA Clippers: N/A
2023-2024 Regular Season Points Per Game
Denver Nuggets: 113.2 | LA Clippers: 110.8
2023-2024 Regular Season Defensive Rating
Denver Nuggets: 111.6 | LA Clippers: 113.2
Denver Nuggets: 1 (Nikola Jokic, 2024) | LA Clippers: 0
Western Conference Finals Appearances (2021-2024)
Denver Nuggets: 16-4 | LA Clippers: 6-11
Nikola Jokic vs Kawhi Leonard 2023-2024 PPG
Denver Nuggets: 30.1 (Jokic) | LA Clippers: 23.8 (Leonard)
Denver Nuggets: 29-15 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic 27.8 PPG | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 3 (Nikola Jokic 2021, 2022, 2024) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 30.1 years | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: $218 million | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 119.3 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 109.8 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 28.1 (Jokic) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: $184 million (in luxury tax) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 113.2 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 107.8 | LA Clippers: 112.1
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic - 24.5 | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 3 All-Stars | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: 1 (2023) | LA Clippers: N/A
Denver Nuggets: Limited (2-3) | LA Clippers: N/A
How to choose between Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers
Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers. Contains 69 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers.
Has the LA Clippers ever won an NBA championship?
No, the LA Clippers have never won an NBA championship in franchise history. Despite reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2021 and assembling All-Star rosters, they have not captured a title. The Clippers lost to the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 Conference Finals when Chris Paul was with them.
Is Nikola Jokic better than Kawhi Leonard?
Yes, based on 2024 season statistics and MVP voting, Nikola Jokic is currently the superior player. Jokic averaged 30.1 PPG with 9.0 APG and won the 2024 NBA MVP Award, while Kawhi Leonard averaged 23.8 PPG. Jokic's playmaking, efficiency, and overall impact give the Nuggets a significant advantage at the superstar position.
Who will win the NBA Finals: Nuggets or Clippers?
The Denver Nuggets are favored based on their 2023 championship, MVP-caliber lead player, and superior playoff performance. As of 2024-2025, the Nuggets have the better roster, better playoff track record, and more proven championship experience compared to the Clippers, making them the likely favorites.
What is the head-to-head record between the Nuggets and Clippers?
In the 2023-2024 regular season, the Nuggets and Clippers split their regular season matchups, with each team winning 1-2 games depending on the specific matchup. However, the Nuggets' superior playoff success (16-4 vs 6-11 in 2024 postseason) demonstrates their overall dominance over the Clippers.
Are the Clippers still contenders for a championship?
Yes, the Clippers remain a legitimate Western Conference contender with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on their roster. However, their 6-11 playoff record in 2024 and zero championship history suggest they are secondary contenders behind the Nuggets. Health and consistency remain critical factors for their championship viability.
How to Choose Between Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers
NBA Championships: Denver Nuggets has 1 (2023), while LA Clippers has 0.
Current MVP on Roster: Denver Nuggets has Nikola Jokic (2024 MVP), while LA Clippers has None.
Consider: Western Conference Finals Appearances (Last 5 Years)
Western Conference Finals Appearances (Last 5 Years): Denver Nuggets has 3 (2021, 2022, 2023), while LA Clippers has 1 (2021).
Consider: Playoff Win-Loss Record (2023-2024 Season)
Playoff Win-Loss Record (2023-2024 Season): Denver Nuggets has 16-4, while LA Clippers has 6-11.
Consider: Average Points Per Game (2023-2024 Regular Season)
Average Points Per Game (2023-2024 Regular Season): Denver Nuggets has 113.2 PPG, while LA Clippers has 110.8 PPG.
All-Star Players on Roster: Denver Nuggets has 3 (Jokic, Murray, Embark), while LA Clippers has 2 (Leonard, George).
Year Franchise Founded: Denver Nuggets has 1976 (as Nuggets), while LA Clippers has 1970 (as Braves).