4 NBA Finals contenders nearing the end of their championship window

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With the 2022–23 season coming up, a big part of the conversation around the NBA revolves around which teams are championship contenders and which are not. Some of the teams mentioned in that conversation have a shot at the title now but are running out of time to actually get it done. So, here are four contenders who are nearing the end of their championship window.

NBA contender #1: Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the title favorites entering the upcoming season since they will be getting their star players, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, back from injuries. Leonard, who is arguably their best player, missed all of last season after tearing his ACL during the 2021 Western Conference Finals.

This injury may have cost him a championship, and now that he is back, he does not have much time left to make up for it. George only played in 31 games last season and is now returning in much better shape. During the offseason, the Clippers also added veteran John Wall and, with a healthy roster, the Clippers have a good shot at winning the West and maybe even a title.

The Clippers do not have much time left to do just that, however, as they are nearing the end of their championship window. Leonard, Paul, Wall, Reggie Jackson, and pretty much every other impactful player on the Clippers’ roster is aging and bound to decline eventually. Seven of their top nine rotational players are over 30.

At 26, Terrance Mann is the only young player on the team who can make a profound impact. The Clippers are certainly still a talented team, but Leonard and George have a concerning injury history. Additionally, their health will dictate the Clippers’ season whether or not they can rely on their two stars to stay healthy.

So, if the Clippers want to win a title, they will have to do it soon because this might be their last chance. They are all-in too, with barely any draft picks or assets left once their stars decline. After the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era, the Clippers’ future looks rather dull, and a title will not be in sight anymore.