Los Angeles Clippers star ahead Kawhi Leonard plans to make his season debut Saturday in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks at Intuit Dome, sources knowledgeable NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Los Angeles Clippers upgraded Kawhi Leonard to questionable
The Clippers upgraded Leonard to questionable Friday night time, indicating he was set to return to motion for the primary time since April 26. The crew will reassess two-time NBA champ Saturday morning.
Leonard has been sidelined all season due to irritation in his proper knee. Final season, he started to expertise irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee following a win at Charlotte on March 31.
Sources: Los Angeles Clippers celebrity Kawhi Leonard (knee) is anticipated to make his season debut on Saturday in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks. #haynesbriefs pic.twitter.com/OXuwUYlrA5
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 4, 2025
The 2-time Finals MVP sat out the ultimate eight regular-season video games and Recreation 1 of the Clippers’ first-round sequence in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks. He scored 15 factors on 7-of-17 (41.2%) taking pictures from the sphere in his return.
Leonard appeared in Video games 2 and three, however he was then shut down for the remainder of the sequence, admitting that the irritation was nonetheless troublesome. He hasn’t performed in a recreation since.
Leonard signed a three-year, $153 million contract extension final January
The six-time All-Star additionally missed the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was capable of take part in USA Basketball’s coaching camp in July earlier than USA Basketball opted to switch him with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.
Leonard didn’t observe with the Clippers all through coaching camp and the preseason. Athletic trainers suggested him to take it simple to assist scale back irritation in his knee and make sure that it wouldn’t return.
The 2-time Defensive Participant of the Yr sat out all the 2021-22 season as a consequence of a torn ACL in his proper knee. Leonard additionally performed in 52 regular-season video games in 2022-23 and made 68 regular-season appearances in 2023-24.
In these 68 video games (all begins) final season, Leonard averaged 23.7 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 34.3 minutes per contest whereas taking pictures profession bests of 52.5% from the sphere and 88.5% on the foul line.
In January 2024, Leonard and the Clippers agreed to a three-year, $153 million contract extension. His present deal carries no participant possibility. He’s making $49.2 million this season and is slated to earn $50 million per season over the following two years.
