Kawhi Leonard (Knee) Will Be Ready For Clippers’ Training Camp

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue told NBA reporter Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN that Kawhi Leonard will be ready for training camp. 

Leonard dealt with chronic knee soreness and didn’t play for Team USA in the Paris Olympics after taking part in training camp in Las Vegas.

“I speak to him all the time,” Lue told ESPN last week. “He’ll be ready for [Clippers] training camp. He’s feeling good and I know he’ll be ready for training camp.”

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. 

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. 

The Clippers won 51 games in the regular season but lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs in six games. Leonard only played in Games 2 and 3. 

LAC lost Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason in free agency. Leonard and George failed to guide the Clippers to the NBA Finals as a duo. 

“When you lose a guy of Paul George‘s stature, instantly people [think] oh, they can’t win or they’re not going to be competitive,” Lue told ESPN last week. “But that just challenges me even more. OK, people are counting us out or people don’t think we’re going to be good. That right there just gives me an extra dose of [motivation]. I can’t wait to prove everybody wrong.”

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, Toronto Raptors and Clippers.