Western Conference contenders with superstar duo Leonard and George
Teams seeking defensive intensity and experienced championship-caliber wings for immediate contention
Western Conference team that fell just short in an exciting road loss
Fans seeking a championship-proven team with an elite superstar and sustainable winning culture
The Denver Nuggets are the defending NBA champions with a star-studded roster led by Nikola Jokic, while the LA Clippers compete as Western Conference contenders with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Nuggets have superior championship credentials and a more cohesive system, whereas the Clippers offer more offensive firepower on paper.
The Denver Nuggets hold a significant edge due to their championship pedigree, elite MVP-caliber talent in Nikola Jokic, and strong two-way play. However, the LA Clippers remain competitive with their offensive capabilities and star wings, though they must overcome consistency issues and injury concerns to challenge Denver's dominance.
Choose LA Clippers if
Teams seeking defensive intensity and experienced championship-caliber wings for immediate contention
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| Metric | LA Clippers | Denver Nuggets | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG) | N/A | 27.2 | — |
| Kawhi Leonard Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG) | 24.8 | N/A | — |
| Team Offensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions) | 115.2 | 113.8 | +1% |
| Team Defensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions) |
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Choose Denver Nuggets if
Fans seeking a championship-proven team with an elite superstar and sustainable winning culture
| 110.5 |
| 107.2 |
| +3% |
| Championships Won(titles) | 0 | 1 (2023) | -100% |
| Jamal Murray / Paul George Assists (2025-26)(APG) | 9.1 (PG) | 7.8 (Murray) | +17% |
| Three-Point Shooting Percentage(%) | 37.2 | 36.8 | +1% |
| Average Team Payroll (2025-26)(Million USD) | $188M | $182M | +3% |
| Championship Titles(titles) | 0 | 1 | -100% |
| Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions) | 119.8 | 118.2 | +1% |
| Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions) | 112.1 | 110.5 | +1% |
| Net Rating(points per 100 possessions) | +7.7 | +7.7 | — |
| Bench Scoring(points per game) | 22.1 | 28.4 | -22% |
| Three-Point Percentage(percent) | 39.2% | 37.8% | +4% |
| Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG) | 33.6 PPG | 33.6 PPG | — |
| Team Defensive Rating(DRTG) | 108.2 | 108.2 | — |
| 2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins) | 57-25 | 57-25 | — |
| NBA Championship Titles(Titles) | 1 (2023) | 1 (2023) | — |
| Average Team Age(years) | 27.8 years | 27.8 years | — |
| Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances) | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | — |
| Final Score(points) | 129 | 129 | — |
| Aaron Gordon Points(points) | 23 | 23 | — |
| Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%) | 42.9% (6-14 FG) | 42.9% (6-14 FG) | — |
| Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%) | 50% (2-4 3P) | 50% (2-4 3P) | — |
| Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%) | 90% (9-10 FT) | 90% (9-10 FT) | — |
| Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating) | +14 | +14 | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated May 2026.
LA Clippers
Contenders
Denver Nuggets
2023 Champions🏆
LA Clippers
Kawhi Leonard (All-Star)
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic (3x MVP)🏆
LA Clippers
115.2 PPG🏆
Denver Nuggets
113.8 PPG
LA Clippers
110.5 DRTG
Denver Nuggets
107.2 DRTG🏆
LA Clippers
Older (avg 28.5 yrs)
Denver Nuggets
Balanced (avg 27.2 yrs)🏆
LA Clippers
High turnover
Denver Nuggets
Continuity-based🏆
LA Clippers
37.2%🏆
Denver Nuggets
36.8%
The Nuggets have multiple advantages: Nikola Jokic is a generational MVP-caliber talent superior to any single Clippers player, they won the 2023 NBA Championship proving their system works, they maintain better defensive efficiency, and they have greater roster continuity. While the Clippers have excellent wings, they lack a dominant superstar to match Jokic's impact.
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| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG) | N/A | 27.2 |
| Kawhi Leonard Points Per Game (2025-26)(PPG) | 24.8 | N/A |
| Team Offensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions) | 115.2 | 113.8 |
| Team Defensive Rating (2025-26)(Points per 100 possessions) | 110.5 | 107.2 |
| Championships Won(titles) | 0 | 1 (2023) |
| Jamal Murray / Paul George Assists (2025-26)(APG) | 9.1 (PG) | 7.8 (Murray) |
| Three-Point Shooting Percentage(%) | 37.2 | 36.8 |
| Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%) | 42.9% (6-14 FG) | — |
| Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%) | 50% (2-4 3P) | — |
| Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%) | 90% (9-10 FT) | — |
| Average Team Payroll (2025-26)(Million USD) | $188M | $182M |
| Championship Titles(titles) | 0 | 1 |
| Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions) | 119.8 | 118.2 |
| Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions) | 112.1 | 110.5 |
| Net Rating(points per 100 possessions) | +7.7 | +7.7 |
| Star Player (Primary) | Kawhi Leonard (Elite 2-Way) | Nikola Jokic (MVP) |
| Bench Scoring(points per game) | 22.1 | 28.4 |
| Three-Point Percentage(percent) | 39.2% | 37.8% |
| Most Recent Playoff Round | Second Round (2024) | Finals (2024) |
| Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG) | 33.6 PPG | — |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG) | N/A | — |
| Team Defensive Rating(DRTG) | 108.2 | — |
| 2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins) | 57-25 | — |
| NBA Championship Titles(Titles) | 1 (2023) | — |
| Average Team Age(years) | 27.8 years | — |
| Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances) | 5 of 5 | — |
| Final Score(points) | 129 | — |
| Location | Away - Denver, CO | — |
| Aaron Gordon Points(points) | 23 | — |
| Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating) | +14 | — |
| Game-Winning Play | Jokic 3P (0:08 remaining) - 125-126 | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes