Information broke final week that Kawhi Leonard had one other offseason knee process, placing his availability for the beginning of the upcoming NBA season unsure.
It seems that he is planning to be out there for the Los Angeles Clippers’ season opener. Nevertheless it’s not a positive factor. Leonard shed some mild on the scenario throughout media day on Monday.
“Yeah, that is the plan,” Leonard instructed reporters about enjoying opening night time. “I am by no means planning to overlook video games. It is nearly my physique. I am a human being. And we’re enjoying basketball. So all of it relies on what we wish and what we determine and the way my physique’s feeling.
“As of proper now, I believe it is a constructive factor to suppose that I’ll play. However we’re taking it day-by-day.”
So it is not a certainty, as tends to be the case on the subject of Leonard’s well being. Nevertheless it’s extra readability than offered by final week’s replace from the Clippers that the staff was optimistic about his progress in response to a report that Leonard underwent an unspecified “knee process” within the offseason. The Clippers did not present a timeline final week.
Leonard had the process after experiencing lingering irritation in his proper knee that is undergone surgical procedure prior to now to repair a torn ACL and a torn meniscus. Leonard performed 68 video games final common season, essentially the most he’d performed since 2016-17 with the San Antonio Spurs.
However the irritation sidelined him for the ultimate eight video games of the common season and in 4 of six playoff video games in a 4-2 sequence loss to the Dallas Mavericks within the opening spherical of the postseason.
Leonard then accepted an invite to play for Group USA within the Paris Olympics. However Group USA changed him with Derrick Whiteforward of the Video games, citing Leonard’s “finest curiosity to spend the rest of the summer time getting ready for the upcoming season relatively than collaborating within the Olympic Video games in Paris.”
Leonard confirmed Monday that his exercise in coaching camp could be restricted out of warning with the purpose of limiting threat to his well being for a possible postseason run.
Kawhi Leonard mentioned he’s taking issues day-by-day bodily and the Clippers are being cautious with when he shall be prepared to start out enjoying. pic.twitter.com/7mgRGbhiDc
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“All the things’s been going nice for the previous month,” Leonard mentioned. “However we’re being very cautious for causes prior to now, , I have never been capable of end some playoff runs. So ensuring I can keep wholesome for these vital moments.”
Making it to the postseason might show harder for the Clippers in 2025. 9-time All-Star Paul George departed in free company to affix the Philadelphia 76ers. If wholesome, Leonard shall be featured in a lineup alongside offseason acquisition Derrick Jones Jr. rather than George and returning former All-Star James Harden.
