Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is on the verge of returning to action, having been upgraded to questionable for Thursday’s game against the Pistons, per Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).
Leonard, who had previously been listed as out, appeared in two of the Clippers’ first three games, averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals as a reserve, but has been sidelined with right knee stiffness since October 23. He has missed 12 straight games with the injury.
The veteran forward was on the shelf for all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, which he sustained during the 2021 playoffs against Utah. A two-time Finals MVP, Leonard’s absence was obviously difficult for the Clippers to navigate, as they were eliminated in the play-in tournament in ’21/22.
In other Clippers health news, sharpshooter Luke Kennard exited Tuesday’s loss to the Mavericks early with a right calf strain and has been ruled out for the next couple of games, Greif tweets. After the Pistons, the Clippers have home games against the Spurs on Saturday and the Jazz on Monday. Kennard will be reevaluated within a week.
The Clippers currently sit with an 8-7 record, the No. 9 seed in the West.
Guys soft as Charmin…..
His injury problems remind me of Nash. Play a game, sit out 5. Clippers are not as resilient of a team as they were last season without Leonard playing. Leonard didn’t look very good in those few games either. Fragile Glass inside.
The couple games I saw Leonard play he looked like a monster out there. Defensively and offensively to me he was ready to roll. Fast, Strong, Quick, hustled to the ball, shot well, Etc.. looked good to me.
Disturbing though that he’s having issues. The ACL is a one-year injury in most cases and he’s been out a lot longer. Didn’t he get hurt spring 2 years ago, so that would be ready to come back in last year’s playoffs, so to speak, but he did not and so the five months before this current year starts what was he doing?
I guess not rehabbing and making the legs strong around the knee which is what you’re supposed to do. A year and a half off and he “should” be ready to roll 100%. But as Shaquille O’Neal used to say, “I’ll rehab on ‘company time.'”
I remember it well. He partially tore his ACL during the 2021 Jazz playoff series when Terrance Mann replaced him and balled out. He went under the knife in July that year so it’s been 15 months. So I’d say he’s coming along right on schedule considering his prior injury history
Have you seen Leonard’s legs? His thighs are bigger around than most people’s torso. I don’t think he skips leg day.
Do you mean Nash at the tail end of his career? Because prior to joining the Lakers, he was pretty durable for about a decade.
@rct You have to ask? Of course its laker Nash. Suns/Mavs Nash was fairly durable, with far less injury timeout.
@Gary they had him coming off the bench, and I didn’t see him going hard at the guys he would be going hard at if in the starting group for extended time. I don’t think he played more than 16 or 18 minutes per. He looked fairly crisp, but he was not going all-out in the 2 or 3 games I watched Vs top talent. I thought it was a ramp up, and am leary of what is going on with that knee. He shot pretty well, but one game. Blake Griffin never recovered after one last major knee surgery, its always a fear with guys that start down the injury road. Right knee tendonopathy was his problem in San Antonio, and he has never been off injury management status since, has he? No warm fuzzies yet, hope it’s nothing.
“@rct You have to ask? Of course its laker Nash.”
I absolutely have to ask because you’re impuning a durable hall of famer based off of 1+ years on the Lakers when he was pushing 40 and ignoring his 16 other solid years. Doofus.
Mr. Glass will probably play one or two games then be sidelined the next 10 or more.
It’s called “Load Management” and his return has actually been pushed back at least another 2 games for DNP-LM.
Maybe one of the worst examples of iiiury luck. There is no telling how great his numbers could have been with any type of durability. His $/minute played has to be insane.
Guy manages to be healthy at contract time, or not injured too severely. Wall sure struck gold this way.
Who?