Kawhi Leonard is yet to play a game in the 2024-25 NBA season for the Los Angeles Clippers but it would appear we might not have to wait much longer to see him in action. Leonard posted a video on Friday, which also doubled as a New Balance commercial, in which he hinted at a return.
Two Leonard’s are in conversation in this commercial, with one of them stating, “There’s been good days, there’s been bad days, but I keep coming back. It’s the nature of the game.” This commercial was the best belated Christmas gift for Clippers fans.
Less than a week before the start of this regular season, Leonard was ruled out indefinitely as he rehabilitated the inflammation in his right knee. There was no meaningful update on the six-time All-Star’s return in the weeks that followed, but some good news did come earlier this month.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that on Dec. 10, Leonard practiced with the Clippers for the first time this season. There was an expectation that he could potentially make his season debut within two weeks barring any setbacks.
Well, Leonard wasn’t ready to play in two weeks, but it doesn’t appear he suffered any major setback. Just hours after that commercial dropped, The Athletic’s Law Murray reported that Leonard could make his season debut on Jan. 4 against the Atlanta Hawks at the Intuit Dome.
“There is indeed a target date for Kawhi Leonard: Saturday, January 4 at Intuit Dome, when LA Clippers host Atlanta Hawks, sources tell
The Athletic.”
“The team is still taking Leonard’s status slowly, and there are still a lot of developments that could take place. But the time is coming very soon and this next week is a key next step.”
Here’s hoping it goes well. When it was reported that Leonard, who averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game in 2023-24, was out indefinitely, some feared the worst for the Clippers. With Paul George having departed as well, the notion was that the team might collapse, but that hasn’t been the case.
It would be an understatement to say that the Clippers have managed to stay afloat in Leonard’s absence. They have a 17-13 record after 30 games and look set to get their 18th win tonight too, as they’re blowing out the Golden State Warriors after three quarters at the Intuit Dome.
James Harden and Norman Powell have stepped up in Leonard’s absence while the rest of the players have also made key contributions from time to time. They have ensured that there is still some hope in Clipperland for a season that seemed like it was over before it even began.
Leonard’s return should give the Clippers a huge boost and if he manages to stay upright, they could well be a top-four seed in the West. The chances of the 33-year-old staying injury-free are slim, though, as he has missed 210 games since joining the Clippers in 2019.
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