Mayes Yousef
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined for the entirety of the preseason due to a right knee injury, raising concerns about his readiness for the upcoming regular season. The Clippers are set to begin their regular season against the Phoenix Suns on October 23. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue provided an update on Leonard's situation, stating, "Continue to keep rehabbing. Keep getting better. Keep checking the boxes."
Leonard was limited to just Games 2 and 3 during the Clippers' six-game defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last spring due to ongoing knee problems. Throughout his career, Leonard has faced numerous health challenges, earning recognition as a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time Finals MVP, winning titles with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
In the 2023 playoffs, he missed the last three games of the Clippers' five-game first-round series against the Suns. Additionally, he sat out the final eight postseason games in 2021 after suffering a knee injury, and he missed the entire 2021-22 season following surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament.
At 33 years old, Leonard participated in 52 regular-season games (50 starts) in the 2022-23 season and played all 68 games (all starts) the previous year. He earned his sixth All-Star selection for the 2023-24 season, averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. Over his career, he averages 20.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Leonard's NBA journey began with the Spurs from 2011 to 2018.