Report: Kawhi out indefinitely to start season due to knee inflammation
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will be out indefinitely to begin the 2024-25 campaign due to the lingering inflammation in his right knee, sources told Ohm Youngmisuk and Shams Charania of ESPN.
The Clippers already ruled out Leonard for their entire five-game preseason schedule, which concludes Thursday against the Sacramento Kings. The team tips off its regular season at home versus the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23 in its new arena, the Intuit Dome.
Leonard's surgically repaired knee has been a recurring issue throughout the offseason. Initially invited to USA Basketball's training camp for the Summer Games, the team sent Leonard home and replaced him with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White due to concerns surrounding the status of his knee.
During the offseason, the two-time NBA champion reportedly underwent a third procedure on his right knee in four years.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in September that Leonard's inflammation subsided slightly but that the 33-year-old would be held out of certain activities in training camp to strengthen the joint through rehab.
On Monday, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue confirmed Leonard would sit out for the rest of the preseason but didn't offer specifics regarding his next steps.
Tyronn Lue says Kawhi Leonard will not play today or Thursday, so he’s out for the whole Clippers’ preseason.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 15, 2024
What’s he gonna do this week?
“Continue to keep rehabbing, keep getting better, and keep checking the boxes.” pic.twitter.com/HdNEildjUo
The two-time Finals MVP missed four of Los Angeles' six first-round contests against the Dallas Mavericks in April due to inflammation. Though he played in Games 2 and 3 of the series, Leonard's mobility appeared limited, as he totaled just 24 points on 11-of-24 shooting (0-of-5 from deep) in both contests, which the Clippers lost.
Leonard first underwent surgery on his right knee in July 2021 to repair a partially torn ACL, causing the six-time All-Star to miss the entire 2021-22 season. He then tore the meniscus in the same knee during L.A.'s first-round series against the Suns in 2023, his first playoff series after returning from the ACL injury. The ailment sidelined Leonard from the final three contests as Phoenix eliminated the Clippers in five games.
In January, the franchise signed Leonard to a reported three-year, fully guaranteed $152.4-million contract extension, tying the former 15th overall pick to the club through 2026-27.