The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a setback at the start of the regular season as star player Kawhi Leonard will be out indefinitely due to inflammation in his right knee, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ohm Youngmisuk on Thursday. Leonard will be focusing on his rehabilitation program to address the issue.
When asked about Leonard’s status, Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw mentioned that the team is being patient with him and that Leonard is working on rehabbing and strengthening his knee with the medical staff.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue confirmed that Leonard will not be playing in the preseason finale and expressed uncertainty about his availability for the start of the regular season. The plan for Leonard is to continue rehabbing and improving his condition.
Team president Lawrence Frank provided insight into Leonard’s progress, mentioning that the swelling in his knee has reduced significantly and that they are taking a cautious approach to ensure his long-term health and performance. Leonard had previously undergone a procedure on his knee in May.
Leonard’s history of knee injuries, including a torn ACL in the 2021 playoffs and a torn meniscus in the 2023 playoffs, has raised concerns about his durability. Despite his impressive performance last season, the Clippers are focused on managing his health to prevent any reoccurrence of past issues.
The team’s strategy is to prioritize Leonard’s well-being and long-term success, even if it means missing games early in the season. In his absence, players like Derrick Jones Jr. and Terance Mann will have to step up to fill the void left by Leonard.
sentence: “The cat chased the mouse through the kitchen.”
Rewritten sentence: “Through the kitchen, the mouse was chased by the cat.”