It seems Kawhi Leonard just can't catch a break.
The Los Angeles Clippers star is indefinitely sidelined for the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, ESPN's NBA insider Chams Charania reported. Leonard is purportedly rehabilitating from the inflamation in his right knee, Charania posted, citing league sources.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is expected to be sidelined for indefinite period of time to start the NBA season as he rehabilitates the inflammation in his right knee, league sources tell me and @NotoriousOHM. pic.twitter.com/M5wFYIWGiv
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 17, 2024
The two-time Finals MVP has been struggling with health issues especially in the post-season during his time with the Clippers. Here's a lookback at those struggles after winning the NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
2019-2020 season: NBA bubble
In 57 games, Leonard averaged 27.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists of the regular season.
Entering as the second seed with a 49-23 record, the Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks, 4-2 in the first round. In the pivotal Game 6, Leonard recorded 33 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals. According to the Clippers, he is the first player since 2000 to tally 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ steals in the postseason.
However, the Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals. The Nikola Jokic-led squad was the first time a squad overcame a 1-3 deficit twice in the same playoffs.
In that postseason, Leonard averaged 28.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.3 steals.
2020-2021 season: Clippers enter Western Conference Finals
Leonard played 52 of the 72 games in the regular season, with an average of 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals. It was good enough to earn the All-Defensive Team nod and an All-NBA First Team selection.
Entering as the fourth seed with a 47-25 record, the Clippers once again beat the Mavericks in six games.
He made 41 in the Game 2 loss, 36 in the Game 3 win, and career-high-tying 45 in the Game 5 victory.
In the Western Conference semifinals against the top-seeded Utah Jazz, Leonard dropped 34 in a Game 3 win. He also scored 31, along with Paul George, in Game 4 for the victory--marking the fifth duo to make 30+ points each in consecutive playoff games.
After giving the Clippers a high with a poster slam on Derrick Favors, Leonard had health concerns after he was fouled by Joe Ingles in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter.
He clutched his right knee, missed his free throws, and was taken out of the game.2 Years ago Today, Kawhi Leonard obliterated Derrick Favors with a nasty poster dunk on way to a 31 Point night and win in Game 4 against Utah to tie Series 2-2 pic.twitter.com/DRJTCWSjpf
— Lukas (@KBsLakeShow24) June 14, 2023
Here’s where Kawhi Leonard suffered the apparent injury, on an intentional foul by Jazz forward Joe Ingles.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 16, 2021
He grabbed at his knee a few times and stayed in the game before coming out a minute later. pic.twitter.com/Yii9G7p7Yp
He was ruled out of the rest of the series. In that postseason, Kawhi averaged 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.1 steals.
The Clippers reached the Western Conference finals for the first time but was beaten by the Phoenix Suns, 4-2.
The team then announced Leonard underwent a successful surgery to repair a partial right ACL tear.
Kawhi Leonard underwent successful surgery today to repair a partial right ACL tear, the Clippers announced. pic.twitter.com/qUTbsChm1u
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 14, 2021
2021-2022: Season skipped
Leonard was out for the whole season as he recovered from the surgery.
Without him, the Clippers (42-40) was qualified for the play-in. However, they lost to both the Minnesota Timberwolves (109-104) and the New Orleans Pelicans (105-101) to miss the playoffs.
2022-2023: The Klaw returns
Leonard made a resounding comeback in 2022. In 52 regular season games, he averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals.
The Clippers entered the postseason as the fifth seed with a 44-38 record.
And in the absence of Paul George, Leonard took the lead and scored 38 in Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns. He made 31 more in the Game 2 loss.
But Leonard was forced to miss the next three games because of a torn meniscus in his right knee.
With George and Leonard out for the Clippers, the squad was eliminated in five games. In those two matches, Kawhi averaged 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Leonard averaged 35 points in first two games of this postseason vs. Suns before the meniscus injury was revealed and he was shut down by medical staff.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 26, 2023
2023-2024: Leonard can't catch a break
In the 2023-24 season, Leonard played his most regular season games as a Clipper with 68. He averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals.
It was enough to push the Clippers to the fourth seed with a 51-31 record.
In the first round rematch against the Dallas Mavericks, Leonard only played in Game 2 and 3 because of a right knee inflammation. He averaged 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.
Without Leonard, the Clippers lost to the eventual Western Conference champions.
2024 Paris Olympics: Almost but not quite
Leonard was named to Team USA competing in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. But he and Team USA decided that he should withdraw.
"Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practics in Las Vegas," the Team USA Basketball statement read.
"He felt ready to compete." "However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers determined it's in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris."
An update on Kawhi Leonard from the USA Basketball Men's National Team. pic.twitter.com/84TjYpc90i
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 10, 2024
[ALSO READ: Derrick White replaces Kawhi Leonard for Team USA in Paris 2024]
Lawrence Frank, Clippers' president for basketball operations, was not happy with the decision.
"It was USAB's call and I was, quite frankly, very disappointed with the decision. Kawhi wanted to play, we wanted him to play," Frank told the media in July.
He shared how Kawhi "looked good" in two practices, "I expressed I really wish they would've given Kawhi more time."
Lawrence Frank said it was Team USA’s decision for Kawhi Leonard to not compete in the Olympics.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) July 15, 2024
Frank was very disappointed in the decision, and thought Kawhi looked great. pic.twitter.com/8FT9feL73i
2024-2025 season: No Klaw to start
And with Friday's development, it seemed there would also be no Leonard to start the new season--still because of an inflammation in his right knee.
Coach Ty Lue admitted there was a setback between the Olympics and the start of the season.
"He felt good, he looked good," Lue told the media. "The swelling was down… It was just a setback. That was unfortunate."
This means Leonard has been unable to participate or complete four postseasons with the Clippers.
The squad will take on the Phoenix Suns to open the season on Thursday, October 24, Philippine time. It will air 10 a.m. on NBA TV Philippines and the Pilipinas Live app.
