Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has yet to make his debut this NBA season due to a lingering knee injury. The injury, sustained during last season’s playoffs, has kept Leonard off the court, and his return doesn’t seem imminent. However, the two-time NBA champion remains determined to get back in action.
On Saturday, Leonard was spotted at Clippers practice working on his rehab. It’s a hopeful sign for fans eager to see him play again. Despite the progress, there is still no concrete timeline for his return.
NBA analyst Bill Simmons recently claimed that a Clippers source informed him Leonard might be back before Christmas. This speculation prompted reporters to question Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue about Leonard’s potential return during a Saturday press conference.
“I don’t know,” Lue replied when asked about the possibility of Leonard returning by Christmas.
Tyronn Lue says he doesn’t know anything by about the rumor that Kawhi Leonard is returning on Christmas.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) December 7, 2024
Kawhi still needs to, ‘check boxes,’ and is doing ‘individual shooting drills.’
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“Just doing all the things he’s supposed to. He’s got to check all the boxes and do all the right things, not skip any steps. So, when he completes that, then we’ll move on,” he added.
Tyronn Lue Reveals Kawhi Leonard’s Emotional Struggles During Injury Recovery
Tyronn Lue opened up about Kawhi Leonard’s emotional battle during his extended injury recovery. During his appearance in a recent interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Lue revealed that Leonard has been deeply affected by his inability to help his team on the court.
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“I just want to let people know from Kawhi’s standpoint, like for him, it’s more frustrating. He wants to be on the floor; he wants to play every single night, and it’s just bad timing. It’s been some tough days and nights,” Lue said.
In Leonard’s absence, the Clippers have managed a respectable 14-10 record. Last season the Clippers star played only 68 regular season games. In those games, he averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
