Kawhi Leonard has addressed the most common criticism directed his way, his consistent unavailability due to injury.
Leonard has now had three consecutive postseasons ended early due to injury, and his long-running poor health is a big reason why the Clippers have repeatedly fallen so far short of expectations.
Most recently, he missed the final three games of the Clippers’ first-round series against the Mavericks, which they lost in six games.
Leonard, who is now healthy and intends on playing for Team USA at the Olympics, says there’s nothing he can do about bad luck.
“Yeah, but this is just my journey, so whatever … I can’t lay out the perfect script for me,” Leonard told reporters on Sunday. “Last year, I tried to play as much as possible, felt great. And at a certain period of time I couldn’t go. I tried the best that I could, but it’s just my journey. I don’t want to be in a situation that I do be in, but I got to take it for what it is. And a lot of people are watching, supporters or doubters, but I motivate a lot of people.
“So, I got to keep doing what I’m doing and I might be the most known at the time right now, like injury or whatever, but people have, players have worse luck than I have. So just to being able to keep going and keep going is going to motivate the next guy that’s watching me. So I’m going to keep going until I can’t.”
Leonard has participated fully in the first two days of Team USA practice and says the Clippers aren’t concerned about him playing additional basketball over the summer.
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