The Los Angeles Clippers are preparing to start the season without their star forward, Kawhi Leonard, who is expected to be sidelined for several weeks due to lingering issues with his right knee. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday, just ahead of the Clippers’ season opener, that Leonard is dealing with inflammation in the same knee that kept him out of the 2024 Paris Olympics with Team USA.
“I’m told Kawhi Leonard will be missing weeks,” Charania revealed on ESPN. “This is not an injury that’s going to be measured by a week or two—it’s not a matter of days. This will be an extended period of time that the Clippers will have to start the season without him.”
Leonard’s absence will be a significant blow for the Clippers, but the team reportedly has a plan in place to carefully manage his recovery. The goal is to ensure that once Leonard returns, he stays healthy and avoids the recurring injuries that have plagued him in recent years.
As of Wednesday, there’s no clear timeline for when Leonard will make his debut in the 2024-25 season. The Clippers are taking a cautious approach, prioritizing his long-term health over rushing him back to the court.
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This latest setback is part of an ongoing trend for Leonard, who has struggled with injuries over the past three seasons. Last year, he missed four of the Clippers’ six playoff games due to inflammation in his right knee.
His availability was limited during the 2022 season, when he played in just 52 games. The year before that, Leonard missed the entire season recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in the 2021 playoffs.
Leonard’s health has been a constant concern for the Clippers, and his absence will undoubtedly test the team’s depth and resilience early in the season.
While the Clippers have been careful to manage his minutes and workload over the past few seasons, the knee inflammation seems to be an issue that continues to hinder his ability to stay on the court consistently.
The Clippers are expected to rely heavily on fellow star Paul George and their supporting cast as they navigate the first stretch of the season without Leonard. While the team is well-equipped with talent, Leonard’s absence will be felt, especially in a competitive Western Conference where every game counts.
With Leonard’s recovery timeline still uncertain, the Clippers’ ability to compete without him in the early stages of the season will be crucial.
Fans and analysts alike will be keeping a close eye on his progress, hoping that when he does return, he can remain healthy and help the Clippers make a deep postseason run.
