Kawhi Leonard’s prognosis has gone from dangerous to worse.
The Los Angeles Clippers All-Star stated in September that following the revelation that he underwent . Final week, information broke that Leonard with lingering knee irritation that sidelined him in the course of the playoffs final season.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Leonard will miss “weeks” with the damage.
“I’m told Kawhi Leonard will be missing weeks,” . “This is not an injury that’s going to be measured by a week, two weeks, potentially. Not days, obviously.
“This shall be an prolonged time period that the Clippers are beginning this season with out him.”
Clippers head coach when requested Wednesday about Leonard’s progress after Charania’s report.
That is not nice information for a retooled Clippers crew that deliberate to lean much more on Leonard after to the Philadelphia 76ers after on a long-term contract.
When wholesome, Leonard stays one of many recreation’s most harmful two-way gamers. He is an elite defender who averaged 23.7 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals final season whereas taking pictures 41.7% from 3-point vary.
However his well being and availability is a continually transferring goal that is plagued his profession for the reason that finish of his stint with the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard’s 68 video games performed final season had been his most since becoming a member of the Clippers in 2019. However knee irritation sidelined him for the ultimate eight video games of the common season and for 4 of six playoff video games in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks within the opening spherical of the postseason.
Previous to final season, Leonard hadn’t performed in additional than 57 video games in any of his earlier 4 seasons with the Clippers. He missed the whole 2021-22 marketing campaign with a torn ACL. Now he is on tempo to overlook one other good portion the common season.
Leonard’s absence means the Clippers will rely extra on James Harden and offseason acquisitions Derrick Jones Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. to shoulder the load. The Clippers open their season Wednesday towards the Phoenix Suns. They will achieve this at house within the first regular-season recreation .
