Kawhi Leonard to Miss Start of Season as Clippers Prioritize Long-Term Knee Recovery

kawhi leonard

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will miss the start of the 2024 NBA season as he continues to rehabilitate from right knee inflammation, according to sources from ESPN. The Clippers are focused on a long-term plan to ensure Leonard’s sustained health and performance throughout the season. The franchise is exercising caution with Leonard’s recovery, prioritizing his full fitness over a speedy return to the court.

Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, has yet to play in the Clippers’ preseason games and has not participated in any on-court activities involving contact during training camp. Assistant coach Brian Shaw emphasized that the team is committed to a patient approach, stating, “He has not been a part of what we’ve been doing on a daily basis…he’s doing everything he can to rehab and strengthen that knee with our medical staff.”

In Leonard’s absence, the Clippers will look to James Harden to step up and lead the team offensively. Harden, who arrived in Los Angeles last season via trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, has had a full training camp this time around and is expected to play a critical role. With key players like Paul George now in Philadelphia and Russell Westbrook in Denver, Harden will be tasked with making plays for teammates such as Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell, and Terance Mann. Harden has voiced his support for Leonard taking the necessary time to recover, emphasizing the importance of having Leonard healthy for the latter part of the season.

Leonard’s knee troubles date back to a win against the Charlotte Hornets on March 31, after which he began experiencing inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. This issue sidelined him for the final eight games of the 2023 regular season and limited his playoff appearances to just two games in the first-round series against Dallas, which the Clippers lost in six games.

Since the conclusion of the previous season, Leonard and the Clippers have pursued various medical treatments to manage the inflammation. Clippers President of Basketball Operations, Lawrence Frank, shared at the start of training camp that while the inflammation had decreased significantly, the team remains cautious, aiming to have Leonard fully fit before he returns to action.

Leonard acknowledged that the inflammation could persist throughout his career but expressed confidence in the medical staff’s ability to manage it effectively. Leonard sat out the entire 2021-22 season after tearing his ACL, and injuries have plagued his time with the Clippers, as he has missed 179 of a possible 435 games since joining the team in 2019.

Despite the injuries, Leonard had a strong showing during the 2022-23 regular season, appearing in 52 games and averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals, earning his sixth All-Star selection. He also played 68 games in the 2023 regular season before suffering a right meniscus tear during the first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns.

The Clippers will kick off the 2024 season at the Intuit Dome on October 23 in their first regular-season game, facing off against the Phoenix Suns. While Leonard’s return date remains uncertain, the Clippers are hopeful that their careful approach will pay off later in the season as they aim for a deep playoff run.