One of the NBA's most often injured superstars is slated to make his season debut.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard plans to play Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks at Intuit Dome, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Friday.
The two-time NBA Champion and Finals MVP missed the first 34 games of the schedule with right knee inflammation. Leonard played 68 games in 2023-24 — his highest total since the 2016-17 season — and averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on remarkable 52.5/41.7/88.5 shooting splits.
Leonard, 33, has dealt with reoccurring right leg and knee injuries since he missed all but nine games during the 2017-18 season with the San Antonio Spurs. He also missed the entire 2021-22 season after sustaining a partial ACL tear during the 2021 Western Conference semifinals.
In Leonard's absence, another former Toronto Raptor — Norman Powell — has stepped up to fill the void. Powell is scoring 23.6 points per game and shooting 44.1 per cent from three-point range, both career-highs.
Despite the injuries, the Clippers have managed to remain in contention for a playoff spot in the crowded Western Conference, currently sitting in seventh place with a 19-15 record.
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