Kawhi Leonard doesn't rue the loss of Paul George: 'I don’t look at him to be my savior'

After losing Paul George at the start of free agency, the LA Clippers could face an uphill battle to bring a championship to the Intuit Dome this season. Steve Ballmer has remained patient since purchasing the franchise in 2014 despite heavy investment in the form of luxury taxes and, of course, the new arena.

However, despite the Clippers' best efforts, the timing for a legitimate championship push has never been right. During their tenure with the franchise, neither George nor Kawhi Leonard could stay healthy simultaneously, often leading coach Ty Lue to alter his rotations and game plan throughout the season.

Now, with George gone and Leonard once again dealing with a knee issue, the Clippers are expected to fall short of their internal expectations once again.

Nevertheless, Leonard remains upbeat. During a media availability on Tuesday, the two-time NBA champion refused to believe that George's departure will end the Clippers' chances of securing a franchise-first championship. He noted how he will never look to another player to be his savior.

"I don’t feel like it’s going to be harder for me personally," Leonard said. "For anybody I’m on the court with, I don’t look at him to be my savior. I take care of my own role and the challenges that I have to face each and every game."

After two major knee injuries, including a torn ACL, Leonard isn't the same player he once was. He is still an elite defender who can get his own shot on offense. Yet, he doesn't possess the same burst on his first step, nor can he navigate over screens the way he did during his prime. That's why having George in the rotation was so important.

Fortunately, the Clippers have focused on defensive talent this summer, with Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. projecting to improve the team's perimeter defense ahead of the new season. Nevertheless, neither player can plug the gap George left behind on their own. Perhaps that's why Kevin Porter Jr. and Nic Batum were added to the rotation, as they can help fill the offensive void when required.

No matter how confident Leonard is heading into the new season, the hard truth is that Lue's team has no chance of contending for a championship unless he can stay healthy and manage his knee. The Western Conference is too talented and too deep. James Harden can't carry the entire offensive load on his own.

So while George may not have been Leonard's savior, without him, Leonard must emerge as the Clippers' guiding light.