Popovich: Kawhi's rehab going slower than Parker's

The San Antonio Spurs entered the season without cornerstones Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker. Improbably, the 35-year-old Parker, who ruptured his quadriceps tendon during the playoffs last season, appears to be on track to beat Leonard back to action.

“He’s just coming along more slowly, for whatever reason,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Leonard's rehab, according to the San Antonio Express-News' Tom Orsborn.

A badly sprained ankle forced Leonard out of the playoffs, though his ailment is related to a lingering quadriceps injury.

"It’s just been more difficult for him to get through the rehab routine," said Popovich. "His body hasn’t reacted the same way. Tony is at the point where he has been going five-on-five and that sort of thing. He’s not totally confident. It will be a few more weeks. But he’s definitely going in the right direction, and so is Kawhi. It’s just been taking a little bit longer."

Without the two franchise lifers, the team has started the year 6-4.