Kawhi Leonard’s recovery from a right knee injury continues to face delays, with recent reports indicating that he won’t be ready for the Clippers’ season opener on October 23 at the Inuit Dome.
The forward will miss the rest of the preseason, as confirmed by Coach Tyronn Lue, who stated that Leonard was not prepared to play in the team’s final tune-up game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. Leonard did not participate in any of the three preseason games leading up to the new season.
“Continue to keep rehabbing,” Lue told the press regarding Leonard’s recovery plan this week. “Keep getting better. Keep checking the boxes.” Currently, Leonard has not taken part in contact drills during training camp and has been cautious about his involvement in regular practices.
Tyronn Lue says Kawhi Leonard will not play today or Thursday, so he’s out for the whole Clippers’ preseason.
What’s he gonna do this week?
“Continue to keep rehabbing, keep getting better, and keep checking the boxes.” pic.twitter.com/HdNEildjUo
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 15, 2024
“… We’re just taking it slow, day by day and just trying to get me back on the floor. Once those conversations come, we’ll see what they’re talking about [on the best approach for back-to-backs],” Leonard mentioned after the game, indicating his gradual recovery process.
During the last season, Leonard played in 68 regular-season games, the most in 7 years, but missed the final eight games including some playoff matches. For the upcoming season, the two-time Finals MVP aims to participate in as many games as possible.
“This is what I work for,” Leonard stated. “I strive to get a championship and I’m not out there to try to [solely] play 82 games. I’m trying to win, even though [playing as much as I can] that’s obligated for me. I try to. But it hasn’t worked out [the last two postseasons] so we’ll see.”
Leonard also emphasized his efforts to prevent inflammation from returning, stating, “It’s not really based on how I’m feeling. It’s more of just listening to the doctors and seeing what I can do to prevent what I have been doing because I’ve been doing a lot — a lot of stuff that probably has me where I am now.”
League Commissioner Adam Silver Praises Clippers’ New Intuit Dome As It Prepares For Its First NBA Match
The NBA Commissioner praised the completion of the Intuit Dome by the Los Angeles franchise, which will host the team’s games starting this season. The arena hosted a Bruno Mars concert on August 15 and will have its first basketball match during a preseason game against the Mavericks on October 14.
“Steve Ballmer and his team talked about the opening of the Intuit Dome, which we’re very excited about,” Adam Silver shared. “They’re opening the second day of the season against the Phoenix Suns. I was last out there when the building was roughly 80 percent done.”
The commissioner also highlighted the innovative features of the arena, including a record number of bathrooms and cutting-edge technology. He received positive feedback regarding the inaugural concert held at the venue.
“I’ve read rave reviews about the concerts that have opened the building,” Silver mentioned. “Not surprising, the new technology that Steve has installed in his arena. And I hear the most bathrooms in the history of any arena, that will be helpful as I get older.”
