Ginobili on Leonard: 'We have to think that he's not coming back'

Kawhi Leonard made a rare appearance with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday for their team photo, but it remains unclear when he'll suit up for them again.

The superstar has been away from the club for the majority of the season due to a mysterious quad injury. Leonard last played on Jan. 13 and was cleared by team doctors in February, but hasn't yet received the green light from his own medical staff with only 11 regular-season games remaining.

Though coach Gregg Popovich said Monday there's no timetable for determining whether to shut down Leonard for the campaign, other players aren't holding their breath.

"He is not coming back," Manu Ginobili said of his own mindset, as quoted by ESPN's Michael C. Wright.

"For me, he's not coming back because it's not helping (to think Leonard is returning). We fell for it a week ago again. I guess you guys made us fall for it. But we have to think that he's not coming back, that we are who we are, and that we got to fight without him. That shouldn't be changing, at least until he is ready for the jungle."

Here's footage of the team photo:

Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, is averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, two steals, and a block in a career-low 23.3 minutes over nine games this season, as the team tried to ease him into the rotation following his season debut in December. Leonard has one guaranteed year remaining on his deal, and could be offered a contract extension this summer.

San Antonio is looking to extend its winning streak to five games without its best player Wednesday versus the Washington Wizards. The Spurs are currently tied for fifth in the West, but could also still miss the playoffs for the first time since 1997.