A number of weeks in the past, John Wall, the LA Clippers’ latest signing, didn’t hesitate to acknowledge Reggie Jackson’s sport and his irreplaceable function in Los Angeles. His phrases of acclaim had been adopted by his specific intention to settle for any function transferring ahead.

A number of days in the past, Jackson, the fourth-year Clipper, answered with lauding phrases of his personal in an interview with ClutchPoints:

“Shoot, if we will simply get 85 % of what John is, we’re getting fairly a steal.”

Regardless of the 2 naturally being thought to be the 2 candidates competing towards one another for the Clippers’ flooring common function, there would not appear to be any unhealthy blood between them.

And unhealthy blood between teammates is one thing this group is used to.

The Clippers noticed their first marketing campaign with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard come to an early shut as they blew a 3-1 result in the Denver Nuggets within the second spherical of the playoffs. Whereas most fingers had been pointed at George and his lackluster performances, it was later revealed that locker room issues had been additionally causes behind the staff’s failure.

It was purported that the staff’s sixth man Montrezl Harrell had issues with George and Leonard didn’t fairly get together with the massive man. Extra noticeably, the staff’s former head coach Doc Rivers and George additionally had issues.

The six-time All-Star pointed at Rivers’ incapacity to regulate and make modifications as the primary motive behind the staff blowing a 3-1 lead. Throughout an interview on All The Smoke, George didn’t maintain again:

“We misplaced. However throughout that entire course of, we by no means labored on changes. We by no means labored on what to do otherwise. We simply actually having the identical s—t occur time and again.”

From these issues to the locker room drama through the ‘Lob Metropolis’ period, the Clippers have typically been held again by a scarcity of camaraderie whatever the quantity of expertise on their roster.

This yr, as soon as once more, the Clippers have one of many, if not the, finest rosters on paper. However in contrast to most different years, the staff is gelling collectively higher than every other staff within the league — from marriage ceremony events to free brokers willingly returning to Los Angeles.

So, it’s a very good signal that the 2 gamers in direct competitors respect one another and are prepared to embrace no matter function they’re given. And if these two veterans can proceed to coexist as L.A.’s one-two-punch, the Clippers will likely be a handful for the remainder of the league to deal with.