Los Angeles Clippers Extend Robert Covington for Two Years, $24m

Los Angeles Clippers forward Robert Covington has agreed to a two-year, $24m extension with the team per his agent, CAA Sports’ Andrew Morrison.

Covington, 31, was acquired ahead of the trade deadline in a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers which saw him and Norman Powell arrive in LA for Justise Winslow, Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson, and the Detroit Pistons’ 2025 first-round pick. 

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 10.4 points in 23 games with the Clippers last season, his most since the 2019-20 season, as well as 5.1 rebounds and 45% from three. 

Robert Covington back in Los Angeles

Covington was able to sign a maximum two-year extension before free agency under collective bargaining agreement rules.

The newly-renewed Clipper figures to be a rotational piece behind Kawhi Leonard and the other forwards. LA will likely be amongst the championship favorites, and a large part of this is because of their strength off the bench.

Covington is also an excellent defender and can comfortably guard three-five and is capable of switching onto guards; he has plenty of experience playing in space but also crashing the boards from his time in the small-ball Houston Rockets lineup. Statistically, he ranked sixth in deflections last season despite only playing a little over 25 minutes per game. He was also the only player to register at least 90 blocks and 90 steals in the regular season.

The 2022-23 season will mark Covington’s 10th as a professional. He has spent time with the Clippers, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Tennessee State product recently said that he takes tremendous pride in being able to represent historically black universities and colleges (HBCUs) in the NBA.

“To currently be the only HBCU alumni in the NBA is a phenomenal thing for me to carry… I carry that to my heart,” said Covington.

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