Kawhi Leonard successfully returned to the Clippers’ lineup on Thursday, contributing 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.
How significant is the return of Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers’ starting lineup?
Despite having an inefficient shooting performance with six points (2-for-8 shooting, 0-for-3 on 3-pointers), Leonard managed to contribute five rebounds and four assists during his 25 minutes as a starter. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue commended Leonard for his movement, defense, and a plus-26 rating that highlighted the team’s success while he was playing.
“Lue stated that he appeared quite adept in his movements. His defensive contribution is invaluable to us. His presence on the court fundamentally transforms our team. Having the ball in his possession provides us a feeling of tranquility,” he explained.
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 decided not to pursue that approach.
“Lue said, “That was excessively nasty. I wasn’t fond of it. You possess the best player [on the bench].”
Leonard initially participated in 5-on-5 drills on November 11. Following this, according to Lue, Leonard undertook additional 5-on-5 sessions “a few times”. Leonard also joined the Clippers on their recent bi-game tour in Houston and Dallas. After the Clippers promoted Leonard subsequent to Thursday’s morning practice, Lue decided to play him against Detroit with the intention of enhancing Leonard’s flow and team synergy.
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 admitted, “I really have no idea. We’re approaching this game-by-game and day-by-day, ensuring he’s feeling well. We’re depending on our medical staff for this situation and we’ll see how it unfolds. The most crucial aspect is how he feels. There’s no specific checklist he needs to complete.”
Through all the uncertainty, Leonard has found stability.
KAWHI. pic.twitter.com/5LOHxMNJIo
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 18, 2022
“Being able to participate and play in the game now is the easy part,” stated Leonard. “However, the previous season was quite lengthy as I was focusing on strengthening my knee and my entire body. The knowledge that I wouldn’t be able to step on the court was emotionally draining. Despite that, I exerted a lot of effort to reach where I am today. The journey is still going to be long, but I just need to continue battling.”
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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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