The Los Angeles Clippers have yet to use Kawhi Leonard‘s services in a game this season after a difficult 2024 in which Leonard’s knee caused him unexpected problems. He played over 65 games last season and made the All-NBA team, but he picked up a mysterious knee injury in March that ruled him out of most of the 2024 Playoffs, Team USA in the summer, and has kept him out so far this season.
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue spoke about Leonard’s status in depth for the first time in months on the Stephen A. Smith Show, revealing how emotional this time has been for Leonard as he’s chomping at the bit to return to the court but his knee won’t allow it.
“For him, it’s more frustrating. He wants to be on the floor every single night and it’s just bad timing. It’s not like we got to the Playoffs and said, ‘I don’t want to play.’ It’s been some tough days and nights, and I’ve talked to Kawhi on nights where he’s almost crying just talking about how he let the team down. But you can’t do anything about the injuries.”
“He’s another guy who works very hard every single day to be on the floor, the court, and it’s just unfortunate luck. I heard you say one day he has 35 and the next day he doesn’t play. But it’s not by design. This guy works hard every single day, in the weight room, on the court, every single day.”
Leonard’s inability to play due to his knee has hurt Lue as well, as the coach has to often step in and protect Leonard from rushing back to the court.
“It’s sad for me because I see the work he puts in, the players see the work he puts in, our organization sees it, and when it’s time to play, he can’t go. A lot of time, it’s me or the organization like, ‘Listen Kawhi, you like 40%, so you can’t go out on the floor tonight because you’ll make it even worse.’ That’s why I want to say, Kawhi is a hell of a worker and a top-five player when healthy. It’s just been unfortunate with the injury bug but it’s not from a lack of working or a lack of wanting to be on the floor.”
Ty Lue says there’s been nights where Kawhi Leonard is almost in tears because he thinks his injuries have let the Clippers down.
Lue: “I’ve talked to Kawhi, nights where he’s almost crying just talking about how he’s let the team down.”
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— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) December 9, 2024
Leonard was looking the healthiest he had in years last season, playing 68 games and averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He was named to the All-NBA Team because of his excellent performances last season, although his knee mysteriously fell apart after March. He played two Playoff games where it was clear he couldn’t even move freely on the court.
He tried playing for Team USA over the summer but that bid failed after Team USA themselves elected to send Leonard home, much to the chagrin of the Clippers. But the franchise hasn’t been able to play Leonard in a competitive game since April, so it’s probably for the best that he was turned away.
The Clippers are hoping Leonard returns soon, having been cleared for on-court activities in November. He’s slowly ramping up for a return, but there’s no indication of when he will make his season debut.
The franchise has started this season 12-10, keeping themselves in the hunt for a Playoff spot with James Harden and Norman Powell leading the team. Leonard will transform the franchise once he returns, so they’ll be hoping it’s soon enough for them to consolidate their position in the battle for the No. 6 seed in the West.
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