Although two-way star Kawhi Leonard recently made his regular season debut, LA Clipper fans remain worried about his health moving forward. Every year, there seems to be an injury to his knee, keeping him out of play for an unpredictable amount of time.
Last night, the two-time champion showed potential in the Clippers’ blow-out win with 12 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes. There were times when Leonard appeared rusty, but that is completely normal for a player who has missed as much time as he has.
Despite a minute restriction, Leonard’s health passed the initial eye test. He did not appear to limp on either side of the ball and defended at a high level against an offense stacked with talent.
Leonard’s optimistic approach to his injury quickly faded with his comments following the win. He mentioned the current state of his knee, which worries fans moving forward, as the Clippers hope to leave a legacy in the postseason.
Kawhi Leonard was asked about his knee in the post-game press conference and delivered a concerning response for the LA Clippers.
Initially, LA Clippers’ star Kawhi Leonard spoke on his return to in-game action. He stated, “We're still easing me into the game. We're on nobody's timetable. Anybody watching that wants to see me score 20, 30 points, or be aggressive, we are not on no one's time-frame. We know what's ahead of us and we have to keep building in the right direction.”
Kawhi Leonard on his Clippers’ return:
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 5, 2025
“We're still easing me into the game. We're on nobody's timetable. Anybody watching that. wants to see me score 20, 30 points, or be aggressive, we are not on no one's time-frame. We know what's ahead of us and we have to keep building in… pic.twitter.com/f3fjVj7fRo
Though there is no specific time frame, the Clippers will need their best player off the injury report as they plan on taking the simplest route to the NBA Finals. This will not be possible with Leonard away the court.
Minutes later, Leonard spoke on the condition of his knee, and stated, “I don't know. Last time, I woke up and it was flared up and I couldn't move. Now, it's just keeping it moving. I don't know, it's day-to-day.”
Kawhi Leonard on what he's looking for in he and his knee are feeling:
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 5, 2025
“I don't know. Last time, I woke up and it was flared up and I couldn't move. Now, it's just keeping it moving. I don't know, it's day-to-day.” pic.twitter.com/Aw7Rnj6GMc
This response is worrisome, as fans question whether Leonard has returned fully healthy. If not, the best option is to take time off and recover before re-entering the rotation.
That said, Leonard has the correct mindset in terms of a timeframe, but the Clippers will need him in peak shape if they want to win. His health is the ultimate x-factor, as Tyronn Lue has the best rotation in the Western Conference at total health.