NBA star Kawhi Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019 because he “wanted to go to a franchise where I could try to help build a legacy.”
Leonard left the Toronto Raptors after helping them win the 2019 championship over the Golden State Warriors and signed with the Clippers, who acquired Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers acquired Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 and wanted to sign Leonard to create a “Big 3” of Davis, Leonard and LeBron James.
However, Leonard picked the Clippers.
The Lakers won the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble, while the Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals.
Leonard and Co. blew a 3-1 lead to the Nuggets.
George left the Clippers this past offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers. LAC never reached the NBA Finals in the George-Leonard era.
Leonard will be sidelined indefinitely to begin the 2023-24 season as he rehabilitates from inflammation in his right knee.
Leonard deals with chronic inflammation from the multiple surgeries he’s had. He played in just two playoff games in 2023 due to a torn right meniscus and missed the entire 2021-22 season after tearing his right ACL during the 2021 playoffs.
“He has not been a part of what we’ve been doing on a daily basis,” Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw said on 10/17. “I know the company line has been that we’re going to be patient with him, so he’s doing everything that he can to rehab it and strengthen that knee on his own with our medical staff. And we’re just dealing with the guys that we have [available].”
One of the top players in NBA history, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks in 2023-24 for the Clippers in 68 games while shooting 52.5% from the field, 41.7% from beyond the arc and 88.5% from the free-throw line. He made the All-Star team and the All-NBA second team.
Leonard has career averages of 20.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks with the San Antonio Spurs, Raptors and Clippers. He’s a two-time champion and a two-time Finals MVP.
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