The Los Angeles Clippers are set to commence construction of their new arena next week, but they will be without their star player, Kawhi Leonard, for an undetermined period. Leonard will miss the start of the 2024-25 season as he continues to recover from inflammation in his right knee, according to reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ohm Youngmisuk.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, has a history of injuries, including a torn ACL that kept him out for the entire 2021-22 season and a torn meniscus sustained during the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Last season, he enjoyed an All-Star year, playing 68 regular season games, his highest total since the 2016-17 season. However, injuries resurfaced during the crucial phases of the Clippers’ playoff run last spring.
Leonard initially suffered knee inflammation during a March 31 victory against the Charlotte Hornets, which hampered his performance throughout the playoffs. He missed the final eight games of the regular season and sat out four games in the Clippers’ first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, who ultimately won the series in six games.
This summer, Leonard was selected for Team USA but was replaced by Boston Celtics guard Derrick White on the roster that secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. USA Basketball stated that Leonard agreed with both the organization and the Clippers that it would be best for him to focus on his preparations for the upcoming season instead of competing in the Olympics.
At 33 years old, Leonard has yet to play in the Clippers’ preseason and did not engage in any on-court contact activities during training camp. The Clippers are set to kick off their season by hosting the Phoenix Suns in the inaugural regular season game at their new venue, the Intuit Dome, on Wednesday.