Kawhi Leonard undergoes knee procedure ahead of upcoming season”>Los Angeles Clippers
star Kawhi Leonard will miss the beginning of the regular season and is out indefinitely, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ohm Youngmisuk. Leonard is dealing with inflammation in his right knee and will continue his rehabilitation program. Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw declined to comment on Leonard’s status, stating that they are focusing on the players who are available for practice.Clippers coach Tyronn Lue had previously stated that Leonard would not play in Thursday’s preseason finale and expressed uncertainty about his availability for the start of the regular season. The plan for Leonard is to continue rehabbing and checking off milestones in his recovery.
This news aligns with what team president Lawrence Frank said last month about Leonard’s rehabilitation progress. Frank mentioned that they were being cautious with their approach, allowing Leonard to strengthen his knee before returning to full activity. The goal is to avoid a repeat of last season when Leonard had to miss games due to knee inflammation.
It was also reported that Leonard underwent a procedure on his knee in May, following an ACL tear during the 2021 playoffs and a meniscus tear in the 2023 playoffs. Despite these injuries, he performed well last season before experiencing late-season knee inflammation.
With Leonard sidelined at the beginning of this season, it will be challenging for the Clippers as they also lost Paul George in free agency. Derrick Jones Jr. and Terance Mann are expected to take on tough defensive assignments while James Harden and Norman Powell carry more offensive responsibilities.
Kawhi Leonard will be absent from the Los Angeles Clippers’ lineup at the start of this season due to ongoing rehabilitation for inflammation in his right knee. The team aims to prioritize his long-term health by taking a cautious approach throughout his recovery process.
