Following his best regular season in years, Kawhi Leonard’s postseason concluded in a familiar fashion — on the sidelines in street clothes due to an injury.
Despite missing the final three Clippers playoff games with knee inflammation, Leonard is now gearing up with Team USA for the Summer Olympics in Paris. How do the Clippers feel about their injury-prone star taking on additional risk to play for another team? Are they concerned?
“Not really,” Leonard stated on Sunday, per ESPN. “They were positive about the situation. So, yeah, they weren’t too worried about it.”
Leonard discussed this topic during a press conference at Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas. He mentioned that his knee has improved since the NBA postseason, prompting his decision to accept the invitation to join a star-studded Olympics roster that includes former NBA Finals MVPs LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
“I took the time, and I was able to turn around over the last two weeks,” Leonard explained. “So, I’m out here now, and, yeah, I’m having a good time.”
With six All-NBA selections, two NBA championships, and two Finals MVP titles, Leonard’s accolades are impressive. However, an Olympic gold medal is a notable absence on his illustrious record. This summer marks Leonard’s debut in the Olympics, and at 33 years old with a history of injuries, it could be his final opportunity to compete at this level, adding extra motivation to his participation.
“I’ve always been eager to compete against international talent and experience different basketball styles and strategies,” Leonard shared, per the Los Angeles Times. “It’s one of the reasons why I love the game.”
Meanwhile, the Clippers are undergoing significant changes following Paul George’s departure in free agency to the Philadelphia 76ers. While they may not be immediate championship contenders post-George, Leonard is expected to assume a more prominent role as the team’s primary option moving forward.
For a player who has witnessed the conclusion of the Clippers’ past three playoff runs from the sidelines due to injuries, this presents a challenging scenario. Add to that the 2021-22 season where the Clippers missed the playoffs when Leonard was sidelined with an ACL tear.
Nevertheless, Leonard is currently in good health and has been actively participating in Team USA’s practices. He remains unfazed by the potential injury risks, and according to him, the Clippers share a similar sentiment of minimal concern.