After almost half a missed season, Kawhi Leonard is reportedly set to make his season debut on Saturday.
The six-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP is predicted to play within the Los Angeles Clippers’ sport towards the Atlanta Hawks, in accordance with Chris Haynes, veteran NBA reporter And The Legislation of Athletics Murray. FormallyLeonard’s standing went from uncertain to uncertain with the restoration from a proper knee harm.
Leonard beforehand posted a video about X final week, hinting {that a} return was close to.
“There’s been good days. There’s been unhealthy days. However I hold coming again,” Leonard mentioned whereas fishing within the video. “That’s the character of the sport.”
Leonard hasn’t been seen on an NBA courtroom because the first spherical of final season’s playoffs, which he left with a proper knee harm. Details about his progress since then has been imprecise and sporadic.
Will Kawhi Leonard’s accidents destroy one other Clippers season?
Leonard was wholesome sufficient to coach with the US males’s nationwide staff forward of the 2024 Summer season Olympics in Paris, however withdrew from the staff throughout camp And subsequently underwent knee surgical procedure in the course of the offseason.
He initially mentioned he deliberate to play within the Clippers’ season openerSO was dominated out indefinitely as a result of proper knee irritation. He lastly returned to coaching in mid-December and is now apparently prepared for a comeback.
In fact, the important thing query with Leonard at this level and sure for the remainder of his profession is how lengthy he can keep on the courtroom and whether or not any of the video games he performs will probably be playoff kind video games.
The Clippers have had Leonard on their roster for six seasons and have obtained a complete of 257 video games from him, together with 28 within the playoffs. Varied knee issues triggered him to overlook the top of 4 consecutive seasons for a staff that had guess all the things on him to make them the championship.
With out Leonard and with Paul George now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, the Clippers have held up to date with a 19-15 report, presently good for seventh place within the Western Convention.
James Harden (21.8 factors, 7.8 assists per sport) and Norman Powell (23.9 factors per sport) have shouldered the primary offensive load in Leonard’s absence, however the NBA is about to have a primary take a look at what the staff is meant to be this weekend. .
