Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for the remainder of the LA Clippers’ preseason due to inflammation in his right knee, and his availability for the season opener on October 23 remains uncertain. Leonard has not played in the preseason games so far, missing the first three matchups, including the Clippers’ 110-96 win against the Dallas Mavericks.
Head coach Ty Lue mentioned that Leonard’s plan is to continue rehabbing and gradually improve, though he confirmed Leonard will not participate in the preseason finale against the Sacramento Kings.
The Clippers have been cautious with Leonard throughout training camp, keeping him out of contact drills to focus on strengthening his knee. This cautious approach is due to the lingering knee issues that Leonard has been dealing with since last season. He missed the final eight games of the regular season and was limited to just two games in the playoffs against Dallas due to the same knee inflammation, which affects his surgically repaired right knee.
Since the end of last season, Leonard and the Clippers have explored various medical treatments to manage the inflammation. Despite these setbacks, Leonard expressed optimism at the start of training camp, stating that he and the medical team have a better understanding of how to handle his knee condition.
Although he feels much better, Leonard is focused on ensuring he can remain healthy throughout the entire season, especially to avoid further inflammation in his knee, which has undergone surgeries on both his ACL and meniscus.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, also emphasized the cautious approach, revealing that Leonard still has some inflammation in his knee. The team has prioritized safety, holding him out of contact drills during camp. Leonard acknowledged the need for a “buildup” to prepare for the regular season, given his current condition, and expressed that the team is taking a day-by-day approach in determining when he will return to full action.
Looking ahead, Leonard and the Clippers will need to decide on a strategy to maintain his long-term health, which may include sitting out back-to-back games. Leonard, while optimistic about his recovery, stated on October 5 that he feels good and is focused on building strength. The Clippers are set to face the Phoenix Suns in their season opener on October 23 at the Intuit Dome, but Leonard’s status for that game remains in question.
