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

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

The two-time Finals MVP and NBAchampion agreed to a three-year, $153 million contract extensionwith the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski ofESPN.

"It just made sense from both sides," Clippers president ofbasketball operations Lawrence Frank said. "We both wanted the samething. We wanted Kawhi to be a Clipper for a very long time andKawhi wants to be a Clipper for a very long time, and we wanted toput the focus on the team and at the same time it just cametogether where it just made sense where it was a very fair deal forboth sides.

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

The 6-foot-7 forward decided tocome home and join the Clippers in 2019, teaming up with PaulGeorge in hopes of adding another championship ring to hiscollection. However, a deep playoff run has eluded them for yearsthanks to myriad factors including injuries and badmatchups.

Frank said that the Clippershave discussed a possible extension with George's camp as well, butno deal is imminent.

This season, the Clippers are23-13, which is the fourth-best record in the Western Conferenceand 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 hasalso been extremely efficient, shooting 51.6% from the field, 43.0%from three-point range and 87.1% from the free-throwline.

Now, Leonard and the Clipperswill continue their marriage for the foreseeable future with a goalof winning the franchise's first championship.