Kawhi Leonard successfully returned to the Clippers’ lineup on Thursday, participating for 25 minutes in a 96-91 win.
LOS ANGELES — After appearing in his first NBA game since rehabbing his right knee for the previous 3 1/2 weeks, LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard predicted “it will be a long journey” before he fully heals from a right ACL injury that sidelined him for the entire 2021-22 season.
“It’s a two-year process. Everybody thinks it’s a one-year process,” Leonard said following the Clippers’ 96-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. “We don’t know. We’ll see what happens once we keep moving forward.”
He had been listed as questionable earlier in the day.
What is the significance of Kawhi Leonard’s return to the starting lineup of the Clippers?
Leonard ended the game with six points, having made 2 out of 8 shots and missing all three of his 3-point attempts. He also contributed with five rebounds and four assists in his 25 minutes as a starter. Despite his poor shooting performance, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue commended Leonard for his movement, defense and a plus-26 rating, which signified the team’s success when he was playing.
“Lue mentioned that he looked quite impressive in terms of his mobility. He added, “His defensive contribution is vital to us. His presence on the court changes the dynamics of our team. When he controls the ball, it brings a sense of tranquility to us.”
Leonard started after coming off the bench in two of the Clippers’ first three games in an attempt to preserve his workload and ensure crunch-time minutes. The 11-year veteran averaged 12.5 points (44.4 FG%) and 6.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game, and then missed 12 consecutive games because of stiffness in his right knee.
However, Lue has since chosen not to pursue that approach.
“Lue stated, “That was excessively unpleasant. I didn’t appreciate it. You have the best player [on the bench].”
Leonard initially participated in 5-on-5 drills on November 11. Lue stated that Leonard has since completed additional 5-on-5 sessions “a couple of times.” Leonard also accompanied the Clippers on their latest two-game trip to Houston and Dallas. After the Clippers promoted Leonard following Thursday’s morning practice, Lue decided to start him against Detroit with the aim of enhancing Leonard’s rhythm and team dynamics.
CLIPPERS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/Cj5hMRnch5
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 18, 2022
The Clippers (9-7) anticipate Leonard will play against the San Antonio Spurs (6-10) on Saturday (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass). But after that?
“Lue expressed uncertainty, saying, “It’s going to be a game-by-game, day-by-day decision, ensuring he’s feeling good. We’re going to rely heavily on our medical staff for this one and see what happens. The most important thing is how he feels. There’s no specific criteria he needs to meet.”
Through all the uncertainty, Leonard has discovered stability.
KAWHI. pic.twitter.com/5LOHxMNJIo
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 18, 2022
“I’m now able to participate and play the game, which is the easy part,” Leonard stated. “However, the previous season was arduous as I was focusing on knee strengthening exercises and overall body conditioning. The fact that I knew I wouldn’t be able to step on the court was quite exhausting. Nevertheless, I exerted myself to reach where I am today. The journey is still far from over, but I must continue to persevere.”
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Mark Medina is a senior writer/analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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