The Los Angeles Clippers will maintain veteran ahead Kawhi Leonard out of drills throughout subsequent week’s coaching camp after the six-time All-Star underwent therapies to regulate the irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee because the finish of final season.
Though the irritation has gone down, Leonard might be held out of drills in subsequent week’s coaching camp to get him again to full energy, in keeping with ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk and Kris Rhim.
Clippers president Lawrence Frank mentioned Tuesday that the swelling in Leonard’s knee had decreased “considerably.” Nevertheless, Frank has not confirmed whether or not or not Leonard might be prepared for the common season.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard underwent a process on his knee within the offseason, sources inform me and @LawMurrayTheNU. The franchise mentioned at present Leonard might be restricted to strengthening his knee to begin Clippers coaching camp, however staff officers are optimistic about his progress. pic.twitter.com/VtCvlBEhPf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 25, 2024
“I feel that the timing’s all going to mainly rely on how his knee responds to every section,” Frank mentioned. “Nobody has a crystal ball.”
In August, Frank mentioned Leonard would “be prepared for coaching camp.”
Nonetheless, Clippers coach Ty Lue mentioned there isn’t a plan but to incorporate Leonard in any staff practices. Los Angeles is presently counting on the medical employees’s steerage, per ESPN. The plan is to have the San Diego State product work on energy coaching for his knee earlier than returning.
“We’re simply actually going to give attention to strengthening and loading,” Frank mentioned. “I feel we discovered some classes. Simply if you consider it, he desperately wished to return again and play in that Dallas collection. … Inside a recreation and a half, the irritation got here the place it wasn’t manageable, so we don’t wish to put ourselves in that place.”
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard might be held out of coaching camp as a way to get him again to full energy
Leonard missed the ultimate eight video games of the common season with irritation in his proper knee. He returned to the playoffs to play in Video games 2 and three towards the Dallas Mavericks earlier than lacking the remaining three video games of the Clippers’ first-round loss.
When requested in July if Leonard underwent any sort of procedures or therapy to his proper knee earlier than USA Basketball camp, Frank mentioned he wouldn’t get into specifics.
“I feel the encouraging factor is we’ve seen progress,” Frank mentioned on Tuesday. “This was an actual tough factor when it comes to the irritation. We’re sort of trying to find solutions alongside the best way.
“With time, we proceed to be taught extra about what works, what hasn’t. It’s actually unlucky that he’s needed to take care of this, however I feel we’re positively trending in the precise route.”
Frank mentioned Leonard is “inspired now” with the place the irritation is. “We bought the knee in a very, actually good place,” Frank added. “[He came] again for Dallas [in the playoffs] and it has been manageable since. However we actually, actually spent the offseason making an attempt to get this 100% and I feel we’re getting nearer and nearer.”
Knee points have plagued Leonard all through his Clippers tenure. In response to Basketball-Reference, he’s solely performed over 60 video games in only one season since becoming a member of the staff in 2019.
Leonard, 33, additionally missed the whole 2021-22 marketing campaign as a consequence of a torn ACL. Los Angeles went 9-9 final season in whole video games (common season and postseason) with out the two-time Finals MVP.
