Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will be out indefinitely at the start of the season due to right knee inflammation, as reported by ESPN. Leonard has not participated in any preseason games or practices with the team. He underwent knee surgery in the offseason after being limited to playing only two out of the final 14 games of the previous season, including the playoffs. Leonard was also removed from Team USA ahead of the Paris Olympics to focus on rehabilitating his knee.
Despite playing a career-high 68 games in the 2023-24 season and putting up solid stats, Leonard has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He has missed significant playing time in various seasons due to ankle and knee injuries. Most notably, Leonard tore his ACL in the 2021 playoffs, causing him to miss the remainder of that season and the following one.
Leonard signed a lucrative contract extension with the Clippers in January, but will be without former teammate Paul George, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in July. The Clippers will open their regular season on October 23 against the Phoenix Suns without Leonard in the lineup. The team remains patient with Leonard’s rehabilitation process, with assistant coach Brian Shaw confirming that Leonard is working with the medical staff to strengthen his knee.
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