Kawhi Leonard’s Season Start Delayed Due to Knee Inflammation

Kawhi Leonard, star player for the Los Angeles Clippers and two-time NBA Finals MVP, will be sidelined indefinitely at the start of the NBA season due to persistent inflammation in his right knee. The information was disclosed to ESPN by sources on Thursday. The Clippers’ organization and Leonard are focused on a rehabilitation process designed to ensure his long-term fitness and on-court sustainability throughout the season.

Leonard has not participated in any preseason games, nor has he engaged in activities involving on-court contact during the team’s training camp. Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw noted, “He has not been a part of what we’ve been doing on a daily basis.” Shaw emphasized the team’s patient approach, stating, “We’re going to be patient with him, so he’s doing everything that he can to rehab it and strengthen that knee on his own with our medical staff.”

In Leonard’s absence, much of the offensive responsibility will fall to James Harden, who is expected to lead the team. Harden joined the Clippers in an early-season trade from Philadelphia last year. With Paul George and Russell Westbrook now with other teams, Harden’s role as a playmaker for the Clippers, alongside players such as Tyronn Lue, is increasingly significant.

Leonard’s knee issues began following a game victory at an unspecified location on March 31, which caused him to miss the last eight games of the previous regular season. His participation was also limited during the six-game, first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns due to the same knee problem. The Clippers’ president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, mentioned during the start of the training camp that, while the inflammation had decreased since the last postseason, achieving full recovery is the primary objective.

Leonard, who is no stranger to knee injuries, having sat out the entire 2021-22 season due to a torn ACL, has missed 179 of the 435 possible games since he joined the Clippers in 2019. He managed to play in 68 regular-season games last year, averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals, securing his sixth All-Star recognition.

The Clippers plan to face an unspecified team in Intuit Dome‘s first regular-season basketball game on October 23. Leonard’s ongoing health struggles and their impact on the team’s performance remain points of concern as they navigate the competitive Western Conference.