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Kawhi Leonard, the well-known NBA player, is greatly missed by the Los Angeles Clippers, considering everything the 33-year-old has contributed to the team over the past five years.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined for the entire preseason and the beginning of the NBA season due to inflammation in his right knee. At this time, there is no specific timeline for when he will return to the court.
It will be a significant shock for his team, which had high expectations for this NBA star at the start of the season. However, the Clippers will have to adapt to life without him. While it’s clear that it won’t be easy, there are many talented individuals who can still ensure success for the team.
The Clippers open their season on October 23 against Phoenix, with matchups against Denver, Golden State, and Portland by the end of the month. Head coach Tyronn Lue recently stated that Leonard's recovery is going according to plan, but he could not specify a precise return date.
The fans are a bit scared, not knowing what to expect, but they will certainly miss a star like him in the future.
Last season, Kawhi played 68 games but faced many issues, which limited him to just two playoff games against Dallas. He later had to withdraw from preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris and underwent another surgical procedure on his knee. Last season, he averaged 20 points, 6.4 rebounds, and three assists.
The former Finals MVP has developed chronic knee problems. Two years ago, he partially tore his anterior cruciate ligament, followed by a meniscus injury, and has since experienced frequent issues with knee swelling
Clippers assistant coach on Leonard's status
Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw addressed Leonard's status in an interview yesterday. Shaw stressed that the experienced player hasn’t been fully involved but emphasized the importance of being patient at this time. He highlighted that the priority now is for Kawhi to focus on his recovery, with the medical team working closely with him. Additionally, Shaw mentioned the need to leverage the talent and potential of the players already on the team.
'That's not a question for me," - he said, as quoted by CBS Sports.
"We're out here. He has not been a part of what we've been doing on a daily basis. I know the kind of company line has been that we're going to be patient with him. So he's doing everything that he can to rehab it and strengthen that knee on his own, with our medical staff, and we're just dealing with the guys that we have."- he continued.
Lawrence Frank on Kawhi Leonard's recovery
Team president Lawrence Frank discussed Kawhi Leonard's recovery and injury, explaining that the timeline for his return will depend on how well his knee responds to each phase of rehabilitation. Lawrence noted that predicting an exact return is difficult, as no one can predict how the situation will unfold.
However, he mentioned that things are trending positively. Frank emphasized Leonard's determination to have a successful season but reiterated that health should take precedence over specific timeframes; the focus should be on Leonard's recovery process and his body's responses.
Frank spoke about the seriousness of the 33-year-old's injury and emphasized Leonard's dedication and eagerness to participate fully in training camp. However, it became clear that his body wasn't cooperating, leading the physiotherapists and others within the organization to advise him to focus on strengthening rather than participating in every drill during camp. Frank highlighted that they have developed a clear recovery plan, which should help ensure that Leonard returns in peak condition. Given the high standards associated with such a player, few doubt that Leonard will not be the same upon his return.
It’s also noteworthy that the team president believes Kawhi has many years of play ahead of him, and he wants to see him fully healthy. His intention is not to have a player who can only contribute partially, but rather one who will be a cornerstone of the team for the coming years. Everyone within the organization is dissatisfied with last season and how things unfolded, particularly due to Leonard's absence caused by knee inflammation. Although Leonard wanted to help the team in the final games of the season, his injury eventually stood in the way.
During the 2021 playoffs, Leonard sustained an ACL tear in his right knee, leading to his absence for the entire 2021-22 season. Later, in the 2023 playoffs, he suffered a meniscus tear in the same knee.
We will see when the 33-year-old will return to the NBA courts again.
English (US)