Kawhi Leonard's Ongoing Knee Struggles
As the Los Angeles Clippers gear up for the new NBA season, the primary concern remains the health of their star forward, Kawhi Leonard. Leonard has experienced a tumultuous offseason, grappling with persistent inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.
The Clippers have employed a range of treatments since last season in an attempt to manage Leonard's knee issue. Despite these efforts, the inflammation had a significant impact last season, forcing him to miss crucial games during the playoffs. Leonard's knee troubles were particularly disruptive during the first round against the Dallas Mavericks, limiting him to just two games in the series, which the Clippers ultimately lost.
Strategic Precautions for Training Camp
In light of his ongoing knee issues, the Clippers have decided to adopt a cautious approach for Leonard in the upcoming training camp. The team has announced that Leonard will be held out of drills to prevent a recurrence of knee inflammation. The focus now is on strengthening and loading his knee to ensure it can withstand the rigors of the season.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' President of Basketball Operations, shed light on the situation, stating, "I think the encouraging thing is we've seen progress. This was a real tricky thing in terms of the inflammation. We're kind of searching for answers along the way, and with time we continue to learn more about what works, what hasn't. It's truly unfortunate that he's had to deal with this, but I think we're definitely trending in the right direction."
Learning from Past Challenges
Reflecting on last season's playoff series against Dallas, Frank acknowledged the lessons learned. "We're just really going to focus on strengthening and loading. I think we learned some lessons. Just if you think about it, he desperately wanted to come back and play in that Dallas series, and within a game and a half, the inflammation came where it wasn't manageable, so we don't want to put ourselves in that position," he explained.
The decision to prioritize Leonard’s long-term health was further emphasized by Frank's comments on the offseason efforts to rehabilitate the knee. "We got the knee in a really, really good place. [He came] back for Dallas [in the playoffs] and it has been manageable since. But we really, really spent the offseason trying to get this 100% and I think we're getting closer and closer."
Managing Expectations and Uncertain Timelines
Despite the positive strides made, there remains no confirmed timeline for Leonard's return to regular-season action. This uncertainty underscores the cautious approach being taken, with Frank highlighting the need to respond to how Leonard's knee progresses through each phase of rehabilitation. "I think that the timing's all going to basically depend on how his knee responds to each phase. No one has a crystal ball," Frank remarked.
Leonard's commitment to recovery is evident, as demonstrated by his participation in training camp with USA Basketball despite the knee inflammation. However, USA Basketball eventually replaced Leonard with Derrick White to allow him to concentrate fully on his rehabilitation with the Clippers.
The Clippers are keenly aware of the need to avoid rushing Leonard back onto the court before his knee is fully ready. This cautious strategy aims to not only enhance Leonard’s performance but also to preserve his long-term health and viability as a player integral to the team's success.
As the season inches closer, the basketball world will be watching closely, eager to see when Leonard will make his anticipated return. For now, the Clippers and their fans will have to exercise patience, hoping that the meticulous approach taken will lead to a fully recovered Kawhi Leonard, ready to lead his team to new heights.