Back during the 2017-18 season, Kawhi Leonard missed 73 games with a mysterious quadriceps injury. As the Spurs were pushing through the season without him, there was a war going on behind the scenes, between Kawhi and his crew and the Spurs medical staff, who each felt differently about the state of the star’s injury and how best to treat it.
Long story short, the relationship between Leonard and the organization fell apart, eventually leading to a trade demand that saw him suit up with the Raptors the following year.
Now, according to Skip Bayless, it’s starting to happen again — this time, between Kawhi and the Los Angeles Clippers. Here’s what he said on Undisputed:
“I have been told by a very good source that the first issue became Kawhi was unhappy with the Clippers medical staff because he felt they early on misdiagnosed and underplayed the extent of this knee injury. What does that smack of? San Antonio all over again,” Bayless said.“Kawhi Leonard is his own man, we know this. Once he gets a little sideways with medical staff, he’s going to pull away. He’s going to go to this doctor and that physical therapist, away from the team.
Why is it that the team keeps saying ‘We’re not sure’ from game-to-game? They won’t rule him out. I think they’re just not communicating at all with him so they’re not sure what’s going on with him.”
(start at 5:12)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm9NTjbErp0
Kawhi has not been shy about leaving teams in the past. He forced his way out of San Antonio and bailed on the Raptors just months after winning a Championship.
If the situation worsens with the Clippers, could a departure from them become possible? For what it’s worth, the 2021-22 season is a player option for Kawhi, meaning he could become a free agent as early as this summer.
Obviously, the Clippers will do everything they can to keep their guy in town…
