Kawhi Leonard is on the verge of making his season debut with the Los Angeles Clippers, as confirmed by head coach Ty Lue. Leonard participated in his first practice of the season on Tuesday after being sidelined with inflammation in his right knee that also kept him out of the Paris Olympics with Team USA.
Although Leonard’s practice session on Tuesday was limited to offensive and defensive drills without contact, he looked promising. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Leonard could potentially return to the court within the next two weeks.
“Really good sign, just seeing him out there moving, moving well,” Lue said. “I think the biggest thing for him is just the confidence in it. Just having the confidence to keep doing it, not to feel the pain, and just continue to keep getting through it.”
“So, it was good to see him on the floor and it gave us a little juice today just for our guys seeing him on the floor, it really picked up our energy.”
Leonard had initially aimed to play in the season opener in September but underwent a knee procedure in the offseason, leading to his extended absence. His knee issues have plagued him since the end of last season, where he missed several games and most of the playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.
Last season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while appearing in 68 games — his highest total since joining the Clippers in 2019. However, he has missed a significant number of games due to injuries, including the entire 2021-22 season recovering from a torn ACL.
Although there is no set date for Leonard’s return, the Clippers are cautious about rushing his comeback. Lue emphasized the importance of ensuring Leonard’s readiness before putting him back on the court.
“He’s got to do a lot more things to really get back on the floor,” Lue said. “We just want to make sure he’s 100%. We don’t want to get him out there, 70%, 75%. Like, let’s just take our time, make sure we get it right. … We’re not going to let him skip steps, and so we want to do right by Kawhi.”
The Clippers have managed a 14-11 record without Leonard this season but have experienced recent struggles, losing four of their last seven games. Despite their current position in the Western Conference, a healthy Leonard could significantly boost their postseason prospects.
As Leonard nears his return, there is optimism surrounding his comeback after months of anticipation. His presence on the court could be a game-changer for the Clippers as they aim to make a deeper playoff run this season.