Kawhi Leonard links up with longtime coach

Thus far, Kawhi Leonard has found championship glory more difficult to obtain in LA than in his previous other stops in his career.

Stepping into the league as a baby-faced 20-year-old, Leonard was surrounded by winning players in a winning environment in San Antonio. By the time he officially completed his second season, Leonard had already gotten a taste of NBA Finals action, coming up short against the Miami Heat.

In year three, Leonard played a salient role in San Antonio raising yet another banner to the rafters. He would do so again in his first season in Toronto, pushing the Raptors over the championship finish line in 2019. As Leonard now approaches year three donning a Clipper uniform, he finds the championship formula much more difficult to obtain this time around.

Following back-to-back heartbreaking second-round exits, Leonard was forced to watch the entirety of the 2021-22 season from the sidelines as he nursed a torn ACL. Though it was initially believed that Leonard could give it a go should LA find themselves playoff bound, those thoughts proved to be inconsequential as Leonard remained plastered to the bench.

Throughout his recovery process, Leonard remained inconspicuous. And while at times, Clipper fans were left in the dark, the soft-spoken LA star recently provided a glimmer of hope.

Kawhi Leonard is doing all he can to return to form

Clint Parks, Leonard’s longtime trainer who also works with Kyle Kuzma and Ben McLemore, has quietly pushed Leonard this offseason. In addition to Leonard’s personalized workouts behind the scenes, the multiple-time All-Star has pushed himself vigorously throughout the regular season. While he was ultimately unable to rejoin his LA squad at any point on the court this past year, Leonard did his best to foster relationships with his teammates even when he was unable to guide them on the floor.

By all accounts, Leonard appears to be on track to return for the start of next season’s training camp. Should those words hold true, LA figures to have one of the better rosters in the entire association when healthy. Leonard, as well as multiple-time All-Star Paul George, could be joined on the floor next season by a rejuvenated Reggie Jackson, and a refortified bench, thanks to the additions of both Norman Powell and Robert Covington.