When healthy, Kawhi Leonard is a top-5 player in the NBA. He is an elite defender who can guard multiple positions and is a top-tier three-level scorer. Those two things make him arguably the best two-way wing in the league.
Kawhi Leonard did not manage to return in time to help the Clippers make the playoffs in 2022, but it seems as though he has been putting in the work to return and play at a high level next season. A recent video shared by Tomer Azarly showed Kawhi Leonard looking buff, and it’s clear he’s been putting on muscle during his recovery.
Kawhi Leonard 👀
(via @LAClippers) pic.twitter.com/GaRtEy3tWN
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 2, 2022
In the 2021 playoffs, Kawhi Leonard notably suffered an ACL injury during the Clippers’ series against the Jazz. However, a recent report suggested that he’s “physically ready for next season” and these photos back up that notion.
I was able to update Leonard’s status before the NBA Draft last month, and Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, affirmed Leonard’s positive progress the night of the draft. Everyone who has been around Leonard this offseason, both with the team and outside the team, have suggested that Leonard is physically ready for next season and is not carrying any mental angst that comes with a return from an ACL surgery.
Kawhi Leonard is already a top 75 player of all time, and he has nothing to prove. With that being said, bringing the Clippers their first-ever championship could be great for his legacy. The Clippers should be contenders with Leonard, and they are one of the deepest teams in the league.
We have seen many players make comebacks from serious injuries in recent years, with notable names like Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson being on that list. Hopefully, Kawhi Leonard can do the same, and perhaps this is the year where the Los Angeles Clippers will get to the Finals under his leadership.
