Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard Will Be Ready for Training Camp amid Knee Injury, Ty Lue Says
Tim Heitman/NBAE by job of Getty Photos
Los Angeles Clippers massive title Kawhi Leonard is expected to be ready for the launch of the group’s training camp on Oct. 1 as he recovers from a knee injury.
“I focus on to him the complete time,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue mentioned, per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “He’ll be ready for [Clippers] training camp. He’s feeling excellent and I do know he’ll be ready for training camp.”
Leonard dealt with knee irritation at some level of the tip of the 2023-24 season and was in the foundation expected to be half of the U.S. men’s nationwide group in the Paris Olympics before he was sooner or later changed.
Knee components hold plagued Leonard at some level of his tenure with Los Angeles, as he’s only played over 60 video games in fascinating one season since becoming a member of the group in 2019. He additionally skipped over his entire 2021-22 marketing campaign as a consequence of a torn ACL.
Though his 68 appearances at some level of the 2023-24 season represented the very ideal designate for Leonard since 2017, he only suited up in two contests at some level of the Clippers’ first-round playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks as a consequence of the knee irritation.
The six-time All-Necessary particular person will need to hold an even higher characteristic in Lue’s offense subsequent season after Paul George left to be half of the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $212 million contract in free company.
Whereas James Harden will be support to help lift the lead ball-going by burden after re-signing with the Clippers, Leonard’s availability will carefully affect the group’s space in the Western Conference standings. The 2-time Defensive Participant of the One year owned the 2d-ideal discover rating among Los Angeles’ gamers to appear in a minimal of 10 video games last season (by job of NBA.com).
He’s additionally remained efficient offensively despite his injuries, shooting over 51 percent from the field and 41 percent from three in each of the past two years.
With offseason additions equivalent to Derrick Jones Jr. and Nicolas Batum, Leonard need to be on hand on the starting up of training camp as he attempts to lead a brand fresh-see Clippers group support to the playoffs.