On Thursday, Kawhi Leonard successfully returned to the Clippers’ lineup, contributing 25 minutes to 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 comeback to the starting lineup of the Clippers?
As a starter, Leonard ended the game with six points, resulting from a 2-for-8 shooting performance and 0-for-3 on 3-pointers. He also contributed with five rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes. Although Leonard’s shooting was not at its best, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue commended him for his movement, defense, and a plus-26 rating that showed the team’s success during his time on the court.
“Lue observed that his movement looked pretty good. He pointed out the significant impact he has on their defense, noting that their team dynamic changes when he’s on the floor. Lue also mentioned that when he has control of the ball, it brings a sense of calmness to the team.”
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.
“That was excessively unpleasant,” Lue commented. “I didn’t approve. You have the top player [on the bench].”
Leonard initially participated in 5-on-5 drills on November 11. After that, Lue mentioned that Leonard took part in additional 5-on-5 sessions on “a couple of occasions”. Leonard even joined the Clippers on their latest two-game tour in Houston and Dallas. Following Leonard’s promotion after Thursday’s morning shootaround, Lue put him in the starting lineup against Detroit, aiming to enhance Leonard’s rhythm and team cohesion.
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 his uncertainty, saying, “I honestly don’t know. It’s going to be a game-by-game and day-by-day scenario, with the primary focus on ensuring he feels good. We’re going to rely heavily on our medical team for this situation and see how things unfold. The most crucial aspect is how he feels. He doesn’t have to meet any specific criteria.”
Through all the uncertainty, Leonard has found stability.
KAWHI. pic.twitter.com/5LOHxMNJIo
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 18, 2022
“Being able to play the game now is the easy part,” said Leonard. “Contrastingly, last season was quite challenging as I focused on knee and overall body strengthening. The knowledge that I wouldn’t be able to get on the court was mentally exhausting. Nonetheless, I persevered to get to where I am today. The journey is far from over, but I’m determined to keep pushing forward.”
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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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