By the second day of USA Basketball’s pre-Olympic coaching camp in Las Vegas final July, it was clear that Kawhi Leonard wasn’t shifting easily, that his knee had been hurting for a very long time. Leonard and the Clippers group weren’t proud of the choice, however USA Basketball despatched him dwelling and changed Leonard on the Paris roster with Derrick White.
Now comes the information that Leonard underwent knee surgical procedure this offseason, one thing first reported by Shams Charania and Regulation Murray of The AthleticThough the phrase “process” is obscure and might imply many issues, it was possible arthroscopic surgical procedure.
Earlier within the day, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank mentioned the workforce would maintain Leonard out by way of coaching camp and wouldn’t decide to having him accessible on opening evening, Oct. 23, when the workforce performs its first actual recreation within the new Intuit Dome.
Lawrence Frank on Kawhi Leonard in his opening assertion:
“His proper knee, the swelling has gone down considerably. It’s virtually gone. He desires to take part in every thing in coaching camp, however we’re going to maintain him from doing any workouts and actually concentrate on strengthening as a result of… pic.twitter.com/OH3M0pRkqt
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) September 24, 2024
Leonard undoubtedly desires to play within the opener, and doubtless will, however the truth that his knee is a matter once more isn’t a superb signal for the Clippers. Leonard has a protracted historical past of power knee and leg points courting again to his time in San Antonio, and whereas he performed 68 video games final season (probably the most he’s performed since 2017), his knee restricted him to simply two video games towards the Mavericks within the Clippers’ first-round playoff loss final April. Then got here his stint with Staff USA in July.
It is also regarding as a result of Los Angeles misplaced Paul George in free company to Philadelphia and should now rely closely on Leonard and James Harden, who is ready to get a everlasting nod this offseason.
“Extra pick-and-rolls. Extra pictures, extra baskets,” is how coach Tyronn Lue described Harden’s function this season (by way of Justin Russo).
The Clippers can even want Kawhi Leonard. The query is whether or not he can present extra.
