Kawhi Leonard made a significant return to the Los Angeles Clippers’ starting lineup on Saturday night as they faced the Atlanta Hawks. Leonard’s comeback marks his first NBA appearance since recovering from a right knee injury, which sidelined him for the Clippers’ initial 34 games of the season.
Leonard’s absence was keenly felt by the Clippers, as he last played on April 26 in a playoff game against Dallas, where he scored nine points in 25 minutes. Unfortunately, the Clippers lost that game and were eliminated in six games from the Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Despite his return, head coach Tyronn Lue emphasized caution with Leonard’s playing time due to a minutes restriction. Lue commented, ‘This is like his preseason and training camp because he hasn’t had that. Everybody who’s playing tonight had a training camp and they played 30-35 games. We’re going to make sure we bring him back slowly. It’s a great step in the right direction tonight, but we’ve got to make sure we’re doing it the right way.’
Leonard’s history of knee issues has been a persistent challenge. He played 68 regular-season games in the 2023-24 season, yet missed 12 of the last 14 due to knee inflammation. Although selected for the Olympic team, Leonard was unable to participate when deemed unfit by USA Basketball staff during training in Las Vegas.
Over the past eight years, Leonard has missed 290 regular-season games, including the entire 2021-22 season, due to knee problems. His long-awaited return is complemented by the comeback of Terance Mann, who also rejoined the lineup after missing 10 games due to a broken left middle finger.
Entering Saturday’s game, the Clippers held a 19-15 record, placing them seventh in the Western Conference standings. With Leonard and Mann back, Lue acknowledged the adjustment period needed to integrate the players into the team’s rotation, stating, ‘So just going back to the drawing board, trying to find the right rotation and guys who play well with each other. And so that’s going to be the toughest task.’
Kawhi Leonard’s return to the court is a promising development for the Clippers as they navigate the season. While his presence offers a boost, careful management of his playing time remains crucial to ensure long-term health and team cohesiveness.
Source: Local10
