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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard stated the irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee is “feeling so much higher than it was” and that the plan is for him to play for the Clippers on opening evening in simply over three weeks.
Whereas Leonard acknowledged that he might need to cope with the cussed irritation in his knee for the rest of his profession, the two-time Finals MVP stated Monday that he believes the Clippers’ medical workers and his group have a deal with on the harm and preserve it from being a long-term drawback.
“I imply, it might probably get that method,” Leonard stated at Clippers media day on the Intuit Dome when requested if the irritation might stay a problem for the remainder of his profession. “However we bought a way of how we did get to that time. There’s issues we might do to delay me taking part in all through the season.”
Leonard later added: “We’ll determine it out. I am blissful that I am feeling good and it is feeling so much higher than it was.”
The Clippers are taking a cautious strategy with their franchise star, holding him out of drills when camp begins Tuesday in Hawaii. Leonard and the Clippers have gone via a wide range of medical therapies to manage the irritation because the finish of the season.
He missed the ultimate eight regular-season video games on account of irritation within the knee, which has undergone ACL and meniscus surgical procedures. Leonard returned to play in Video games 2 and three of the primary spherical of the playoffs towards the Dallas Mavericks, however the irritation returned and stored him out of the rest of the Clippers’ six-game sequence loss.
Leonard participated in pre-Olympics camp in July earlier than USA Basketball opted to exchange him with level guard Derrick White. The previous NBA champion with the Raptors and Spurs stated he has a greater understanding of handle the harm transferring ahead.
“We’re taking it day-to-day,” Leonard stated. “All the pieces has been going nice for the previous month, however being very cautious for causes prior to now we’ve not been capable of end some playoff runs, so ensuring we’re staying wholesome for these necessary moments.
“Making an attempt to take care of it and determine it out. We’ll be in right here for a very long time if I began describing stuff [about the injury and treatment] … however simply studying on the way it got here and preserve it down and make it possible for we do not fall in that timeframe of [missing time in] these necessary [late-season] moments and simply ensuring I am wholesome.
“There’s sure stuff that we might do or attempt to do to make me final,” he stated. “So we’ll see what occurs.”
Level guard James Harden stated the Clippers do not have time for endurance and should get off to a quick begin with Paul George having departed for the Philadelphia 76ers in free company.
Nonetheless, Harden made it clear that Leonard ought to take on a regular basis he wants if the star is eased again into play.
“Kawhi simply must take his time,” Harden stated. “I believe we’d like Kawhi later within the 12 months and wholesome.
“I am undecided how a lot conditioning he is been doing, however each time he is prepared and each time he is obtainable suppose he can take his time and take part.”
Leonard, although, stated the plan as of now could be to play within the season opener towards the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23 — the primary regular-season sport for the Clippers at Intuit Dome, their new residence in Inglewood.
Leonard is inspired by the truth that he’s progressing since he tore an ACL and missed the 2021-22 season. He has performed 52 and 68 video games, his most since 2016-17, the previous two seasons.
“I performed my most video games I’ve performed in a very long time final 12 months,” Leonard stated. “Final two years I got here again from ACL and been injured and it is a development for me. It was profitable for us final 12 months. Clearly from a fan base [perspective] or simply from my very own aggressive nature, we did not attain a objective [of winning a title].
“However within the grand scheme of issues and the way my physique’s been doing it, it was a great 12 months. I went from zero video games to 52 to 68. So let’s examine if I might preserve it going from there.”
