It has been over a year since we’ve last seen Kawhi Leonard on an NBA basketball court. After suffering an ACL injury in the 2021 playoffs, Leonard skipped out on the entire next season to heal and rehab his body back into game shape.
The process has been long and grueling for both Leonard and the fans, but it seems to finally be over now, and there is a sense the Clippers are ready to make the most of it.
According to what Leonard told reports on NBA media day Monday, he’s feeling stronger than ever after so much time in the lab this summer.
“I feel stronger for sure. It’s been what, 14-15 months, no basketball. That whole 13-14 month process is just lifting.”
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After so much time away from the game, nobody is sure what to expect from Leonard or how soon he’ll be back in MVP form.
Kawhi Leonard’s Return Will Make The Clippers Relevant Again
But his comeback does signal a return to contention for the Clippers, and they will need him at full strength if they want any shot at winning a title this year.
The Clippers are still depending a lot on Kawhi’s performance. If the 2x NBA Finals MVP can stay healthy and play at his best, then the Clippers could even be considered a title favorite.
NBA insider Marc J. Spears had some interesting points about this. His biggest question was if he can really stay healthy for the entire season or not.
“There’s a lot of Clippers buzz, a lot of Clippers talk. … All this Clippers talk starts and ends with Kawhi Leonard and if he’s healthy, this team is special. But how many games is it gonna be? How many games is he gonna rest? I’m curious about Kawhi.”
On his own, Kawhi Leonard should not be taken lightly by any player. In his last healthy season, he averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 51% shooting.
This year, he could be even better after all the rest. And then if you pair him next to Paul George, Norman Powell, Reggie Jackson, and Terance Mann (among others), and you’ve got a ball club that can bang with the best of them.
