The Los Angeles Clippers will be without their All-Star Kawhi Leonard for an extended period, as lingering knee issues have sidelined the star forward once again. Leonard, who underwent an offseason knee procedure, had previously announced his intention to play in the season opener. However, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that Leonard is expected to miss “weeks” due to the same knee inflammation that plagued him during last season’s playoffs.
“I’m told Kawhi Leonard will be missing weeks,” Charania reported. “This is not an injury that’s going to be measured by a week, two weeks, potentially. Not days, obviously. This will be an extended period of time that the Clippers are starting this season without him.”
When asked about Leonard’s progress following this update, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue declined to provide a specific timetable, leaving the team and fans uncertain about when Leonard might return to the court.
The news is a significant blow to the Clippers, who had planned to rely heavily on Leonard following the departure of fellow All-Star Paul George. George left the team in free agency, signing with the Philadelphia 76ers after failing to reach a long-term contract agreement with Los Angeles. Leonard’s absence only adds to the challenges faced by the retooled Clippers, who must now adjust without one of the league’s premier two-way players.
When healthy, Leonard is among the NBA’s elite. Last season, he averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 41.7% from beyond the arc. His defensive prowess, combined with his offensive versatility, makes him one of the most dangerous players in the league. Unfortunately, health has been a recurring issue throughout Leonard’s career, particularly since his time with the San Antonio Spurs ended.
Last season, Leonard played 68 games, the most since joining the Clippers in 2019. However, knee inflammation sidelined him for the final eight regular-season games and limited him to just two appearances in the Clippers’ first-round playoff series loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Leonard’s availability has been a constant question mark. Prior to the 2022-23 season, he had not played more than 57 games in any of the previous four years, and he missed the entire 2021-22 campaign with a torn ACL. Now, it appears Leonard is on track to miss another significant portion of the regular season.
Without Leonard, the Clippers will need offseason acquisitions Derrick Jones Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr., along with veteran James Harden, to carry a heavier load. The Clippers opened their season on Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns at their new home, the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, hoping for success despite their star’s absence.