Although the field of medicine is all the same, athletic trainers and those who study the process of recovery of the best athletes in the world have unknown tricks up their sleeves to boost the initial timetable released after X-rays.
Kyrie Irving is on a pedestal as one of the recent examples of a superstar with a torn ACL. He was in physical and emotional pain, as any player would be, yet Irving remained optimistic and showed the Dallas Mavericks’ fan base that he is in good spirits.
Recently, Irving was widely seen across social media, after fans were hoping the former NBA champion would return by the 2026 All-Star break, shooting unassisted three-pointers with no signs of pain. This exemplifies the advanced state of sports medicine compared to the rest of the world.
Kyrie was seen getting shots up at the NBPA facility in New York 👀
— Kyrie Center (@kyriecenterig) August 30, 2025
(🎥 @CountOnVic) pic.twitter.com/s6v8wnxlJz
Moreover, Kawhi Leonard was once in the same position as Irving. In fact, he has been in the injury news countless times and is not a stranger to the mental toll encountered from severe leg concerns.
Thus, Leonard has almost always rushed his way back to the court. His logic is reasonable, as the two-time champion is committed to the game and understands his role on the team, but after the second and third occurrences, LA’s trainers had to limit him from playing until clear signs of consistent, pain-free movements were evident.
This offseason, Leonard may be healthy, but the Clippers will not need to push him as they have in the past due to the dreams uncovered by the front office.
The LA Clippers’ exquisite offseason has a crucial hidden benefit for the two-time champion, Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard will have the yearly goals of making the All-Star and All-NBA teams, but he can move at his own pace. Head coach Tyronn Lue will not instruct Leonard to exert more energy than he can, as the superstar has other stars to help.
James Harden was there for basically the entire season last year to help Leonard as a co-star, yet Lawrence Frank added two star talents in Bradley Beal and John Collins with the unknown intention that the two-time Defensive Player of the Year would receive a hidden advantage.
Leonard will still have to thrive and score above everyone else, but there will be more freedom from his side, which could lead to the healthiest season fans of the LA Clippers have seen from him.