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LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard can be sidelined indefinitely to start the NBA season as he rehabilitates from irritation in his proper knee, sources instructed ESPN on Thursday.
The Clippers and Leonard are within the midst of a rehab course of for the two-time NBA Finals MVP that’s aimed to carry sustainability for him on the courtroom by the season, and the franchise can be diligent and cautious to make sure his health long-term.
Leonard, 33, has neither performed in the course of the Clippers’ complete preseason — which concludes Thursday towards the Sacramento Kings — nor has he participated in any exercise involving on-court contact throughout coaching camp.
“He has not been part of what we have been doing every day,” Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw mentioned after Wednesday’s observe. “I do know the corporate line has been that we will be affected person with him, so he is doing all the pieces that he can to rehab it and strengthen that knee on his personal with our medical workers. And we’re simply coping with the blokes that we’ve [available].”
In Leonard’s absence, James Harden, who feels extra snug this season after having a full coaching camp, can be relied upon to shoulder a lot of the offensive load and be the group chief. He joined the franchise final yr throughout an early season commerce from Philadelphia and needed to adapt alongside Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
With George now in Philadelphia and Westbrook in Denver, Harden will attempt to be a playmaker for the likes of Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell and Terance Mann.
Harden has mentioned that Leonard must take on a regular basis he must return and be wholesome for late within the season.
Leonard started to expertise irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee following a win at Charlotte on March 31. He missed the ultimate eight video games of final common season and was restricted to 2 video games within the six-game, first-round loss to Dallas within the postseason.
Leonard and the Clippers have gone by a wide range of medical remedies to manage the irritation for the reason that finish of final season. Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, mentioned firstly of coaching camp that the irritation had gone down considerably since final postseason, however that the group needed to get the franchise star’s knee to 100% and would take each precaution.
When requested if he might should take care of the irritation arising for the remainder of his profession, Leonard mentioned that may be a risk however that the medical workers has got a better handle on it and is making an attempt to make sure that is not the case.
Leonard, who sat out your complete 2021-22 season on account of a torn ACL in his proper knee, has missed 179 of a potential 435 video games since becoming a member of the Clippers in 2019.
He performed in 52 regular-season video games in 2022-23. After he tore his proper meniscus in the course of the 2023 first-round playoff sequence towards Phoenix, Leonard performed in 68 regular-season video games final season — his most for the reason that 2016-17 season — and averaged 23.7 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals whereas incomes his sixth All-Star nod.
The Clippers play the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23 within the Intuit Dome’s first regular-season basketball sport.
