All-Star Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is expected to play his first game of the season on Saturday against the Hawks, sources inform NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter video link).
ESPN’s Shams Charania confirms (via Twitter) that Leonard intends to play. Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times tweets that L.A. will appraise Leonard’s health on Saturday morning before making a final decision.
For their part, the Clippers officially upgraded Leonard’s status against Atlanta to questionable.
Last week, it was reported that the two-time Finals MVP and the Clippers were targeting this January 4 tilt for Leonard’s return to action. It appears that remains very much the plan, and his ramp-up from an offseason procedure to address right knee inflammation is still on track.
Leonard took part in a 5-on-5 Clippers scrimmage last week, and practiced with the club’s NBAGL affiliate, the San Diego Clippers, during L.A.’s recently concluded three-game road trip.
L.A. went 1-2 on that road trip. But the Clippers have had a surprisingly robust start to their 2024/25 season sans Leonard, thanks in large part to the prolific scoring of guards James Harden and Norman Powell. The club is currently 19-15 on the season. That record is good for the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed, a solid finish without the team’s highest-paid player.
In 2023/24, Leonard enjoyed his healthiest season yet while playing for his hometown team. Across 68 contests, the San Diego State alum averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks per night. He was named to his sixth All-Star and All-NBA teams for his efforts.
Sadly, the 33-year-old’s luck ran out in the postseason, as he survived just two playoff games for the Clippers before being sidelined due to the knee issue. Leonard has not made it through the playoffs healthy since his first season with L.A. in 2020.
The Kawhi comeback season begins ……. hope he’s still playing by February.
maybe we need a pool and see who can come closest until his next injury. I give him about 18 days.
What happen but, Jimmy for Kawhi.
Miami deals with Kawhi Leonard and his Supermax contract the next three years and the Clippers get Joy In The Corner. Poetic justice lol.
I’m not hating on the Heat, but this whole Jimmy and Pat Riley flexing is a bit much.
Riley was about as professional, concise and direct as can be.
It was Jimmy and the media with all the ruckus.
PG left and Kawhi hasn’t played a single game, yet the Clippers are 19-15 in a loaded West. Ty Lue is doing a hell of a job there.
I remember when my Pacers drafted Leonard then we shipped him to the Spurs for George Hill. Who won that trade lol.
Pairing young Paul George with young Kawhi, The Pacers probably win the title in 2014 now that I think about it.
Wait,
Kawhi Leonard still plays in the NBA?
In all honesty, I cannot tell you the last time I saw Kawhi Leonard play in an NBA game. I would guess in 2023, maybe 2022.
Actually, Leonard’s last NBA game to date was on April 26, 2024. That is closer to the present day than the last NBA game to date of these players, currently also on NBA rosters: Saddiq Bey, G.G. Jackson, Matisse Thybulle, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood and Cody Zeller.