Kawhi Leonard will not participate in the initial games of the NBA season for the Los Angeles Clippers due to ongoing rehabilitation from inflammation in his right knee, as reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. Sources indicate that Leonard is expected to be sidelined for an indefinite period. He has not played in the preseason, which concludes with a game against Sacramento.
Leonard had previously stated that he aimed to be in the starting lineup for the season opener if his knee permitted. He expressed, “I never plan to miss games, but it’s just about my body.” The star forward has focused on stabilizing his knee in hopes of being ready for potential postseason action, having missed the end of last season and faced limitations during the playoffs.
During the previous regular season, Leonard participated in 68 games but had to sit out the last eight due to his knee issues. He initially experienced inflammation on March 31 after having undergone surgery. In January, he signed a three-year extension valued at $52 million. However, his health has hindered his postseason play for four consecutive years.
Leonard also opted out of playing for the U.S. in the Paris Olympics, prioritizing his preparation for the NBA season. He had been practicing with the U.S. team before being replaced by Derrick White from the Boston Celtics, as the organization believed it was in his best interest to focus on his health. The U.S. team went on to secure the gold medal.
Since joining the Clippers in 2019, Leonard has missed 179 of 435 possible games, including sitting out the entire 2021-22 season due to a torn ACL in his knee. The Clippers are set to kick off the season on October 23 against the Phoenix Suns in their new Inglewood arena.