Entering a season full of change for the Los Angeles Clippers, one of the few constants from the last couple of years may not be there to start.
Kawhi Leonard will be limited throughout training camp as he deals with right knee inflammation. And although team president Lawrence Frank expects the six-time All-Star to have "a great year," he wouldn't commit to Leonard being ready in time for their season opener when speaking to reporters on Tuesday.
Shams Charania of The Athletic later reported that Leonard underwent an off-season operation on his knee.
“The timing is gonna depend on how his knee responds to each phase… We’re trending in a good direction… but the timing when it comes to your body and your health, you don’t put time frames on it," Frank said, according to Sports Illustrated's Joey Linn.
The 33-year-old Leonard's injury history is no secret and he's coming off yet another campaign that was cut short because of “The timing is gonna depend how his knee responds to each phase… We’re trending in a good direction… but the timing when it comes to your body and your health, you don’t put time frames on it.”
chronic knee issues. Leonard had appeared in 68 games for the Clippers throughout the 2023-24 season — his most since 2016-17 — but missed 12 games down the stretch, including three playoff contests.
And although it appeared Leonard had been on the mend throughout the summer, he was abruptly removed from camp with Team USA as they went on to win a men's gold medal without him.
Last month head coach Ty Lue said that Leonard would be ready for camp but it appears the two-time Finals MVP won't be 100 per cent. Frank, on Tuesday, said that Leonard is "trending in the right direction" as swelling in his knee is down, but will be held out of certain drills to start, per Law Murray of The Atheltic.
When healthy, the forward is still an All-Star calibre player and top-tier defender. Last season Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 3.6 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while making the All-NBA second team.
Frank later added that "when Kawhi is healthy, he wants to play," per Murray. And that once he is 100 per cent, they'll determine a management plan moving forward.
The Clippers usher in their new arena, the Intuit Dome, this season without Paul George, who left for Philadelphia in free agency, and may now be without Leonard.
A tall task for the team considering they'll open the year by hosting Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23.
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