Kawhi Leonard has become a recurrent topic around the NBA after he picked another injury in Game 1 of the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers first-round series.
Leonard tore his meniscus in his right knee and was shut down by the Clippers. He missed the last three games of the series, as the Clippers succumbed to the Suns 4-1. Many people think Leonard should call it a career, given his injury history, and Paul Pierce has been the latest to join this group (5:55 mark).
“If I’m Kawhi Leonard, I would really consider retirement. This has a lot to do with what his body has been through,” Pierce said.
Pierce also believes that Kawhi and Paul George have become an unreliable duo in the NBA. The former NBA champion thinks that injuries always happen at the most important moments, and that has always hurt his team.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been perennial contenders, but things haven’t worked in their favor, especially when the playoffs arrive.
“Being unreliable has nothing to do with their talent. Kawhi has probably been the most unreliable, and unlucky. That’s just unlucky to deal with what he’s had to deal with, injury-wise. Because he’s one of the greatest athletes. If you look at the way he’s put together, he’s strong, in shape….But you have to be good and lucky. It has nothing to do with the weights or the load management. You can be the best athlete in the world but sometimes the injury bug just somehow creeps up on you,” Pierce added.
This has become a big problem for the Clips, which is why many people think they should run it back one more time, while others say they should blow it up this offseason.
Stephen A. Smith Urged Clippers To Force Kawhi Leonard To Retire
Stephen A. Smith said this before Pierce. He first said that Leonard’s injuries have been too much, and it’d be smart for him to call it a career. After the Clippers were eliminated from the 2023 Playoffs, he doubled down on these comments, saying that Steve Ballmer should be the one telling Kawhi it’s time to step away.
The Clippers had high expectations when they brought Leonard and George in 2019, but things have been a nightmare for them so far. Perhaps after another run, the management can make a final decision, but it doesn’t look like the front office is thinking of splitting Kawhi and PG.
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