Kawhi Leonard signs three-year, $153 million extension with Clippers

Kawhi Leonard will be staying in the City of Angels for at least three more years.

The two-time Finals MVP and NBA champion agreed to a three-year, $153 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

"It just made sense from both sides," Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said. "We both wanted the same thing. We wanted Kawhi to be a Clipper for a very long time and Kawhi wants to be a Clipper for a very long time, and we wanted to put the focus on the team and at the same time it just came together where it just made sense where it was a very fair deal for both sides.

"Kawhi was a great partner. Because of this new CBA, there's harsh penalties but team building penalties for high spending teams and Kawhi understood it."

The 6-foot-7 forward decided to come home and join the Clippers in 2019, teaming up with Paul George in hopes of adding another championship ring to his collection. However, a deep playoff run has eluded them for years thanks to myriad factors including injuries and bad matchups.

Frank said that the Clippers have discussed a possible extension with George's camp as well, but no deal is imminent.

This season, the Clippers are 23-13, which is the fourth-best record in the Western Conference and Leonard is at the forefront of it all – averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in an All-Star-worthy season. He has also been extremely efficient, shooting 51.6% from the field, 43.0% from three-point range and 87.1% from the free-throw line.

Now, Leonard and the Clippers will continue their marriage for the foreseeable future with a goal of winning the franchise's first championship.