Kawhi Leonard has faced a whole lot of criticism in recent years for sitting out of games but has made it clear once again that playing all 82 games in a season isn’t a goal of his. Following the preseason game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, Leonard stated his focus is on winning.
“I strive to get a championship,” Leonard said. “I’m not out there to try to play 82 games. I’m trying to win. Even though that’s obligated for me. I try to, but it hasn’t worked out.”
To be fair to Leonard, you couldn’t accuse him of load managing in the 2023-24 season, in which he averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. The 33-year-old played 68 of the first 74 games of the campaign for the Clippers, with four of those missed games being due to a hip injury. He tried to play as much as he could, but his body then broke down.
Leonard suffered a knee injury toward the end of the campaign which caused him to miss the last eight regular season games. The six-time All-Star returned to the court for the first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, but it was clear he was not fully healthy and had to sit out after playing just two games.
At this point, Leonard playing all 82 games in the regular season doesn’t give him and the Clippers the best chance of winning a title. It’s clear he needs to be managed, but the problem is that that’s what had been done in years prior and he still couldn’t stay healthy when the postseason came around.
Now as Leonard starts getting up there in age, the chances of his body breaking down as the season goes on only rise. I can’t say I am too optimistic that he’ll ever be healthy in the business end of the season moving forward.
Kawhi Leonard Bluntly States No One Stood Out To Him At Clippers Camp
The Clippers had held their training camp in Hawaii recently and Leonard was also asked who had stood out to him there. Rather surprisingly, Kawhi bluntly stated that no one had.
“I mean just the new guys, just watching them, the new additions we have,” Leonard said. “From Kris Dunn to Derrick Jones Jr. to some of the young guys that we brought in. With Kai Jones last year and just seeing how they can develop. So, just watching them from Day 1 to Day 2 to Day 3, just seeing their progression. But, nobody stood out to me so far.”
I’m not sure if Leonard realized how badly that came across. For no one on the team to stand out, is not a good sign. Following Paul George’s departure, there is an opportunity for players on that team to step up and take on a bigger role, but it doesn’t look like anyone has made a strong impression thus far.
As for that game against the Warriors, the Clippers ended up losing 91-90 on a Lindy Waters III buzzer-beater. Their offense wasn’t quite clicking but you’d expect things to be better once Leonard gets added to the mix.
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