Kawhi Leonard missed the Los Angeles Clippers‘ series opening 109-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The two-time NBA Finals MVP remains sidelined with right knee inflammation, which has kept him out since March 31st. It marked his ninth consecutive game missed, after he did not play in the team’s final eight games of the regular season.
Speaking on the Run It Back podcast, Shams Charania provided an update on his status, stating:
It’s uncertain and Kawhi Leonard, I’m told, had an injection in that right knee earlier this month and the hope was after a period of rest, he’d be able to ramp up, the inflammation would go down and he would be able to come back in Game 1, but it just has not happened yet.
He still has inflammation in that knee and he’s starting to do more and more on the court, which is a good thing. He’s shooting, but he has yet to get to do contact, hasn’t done any 5-on-5 yet. This is the same right knee he had a torn ACL in 2021, he had a torn meniscus in 2023 and now he’s got this inflammation, swelling, whatever you want to call it.
Check out Shams Charania’s full comments on Kawhi Leonard’s status below:
Charania added that while the Clippers are hopeful Leonard will return in the first round, they are uncertain of a timeline or the cause of his injury. They were able to win Game 1 without him as they never trailed and led by as many as 29 points, however, they will need their star back if they hope to make a deep postseason run.
The six-time All-Star played in 68 games, his most since the 2016-17 season. He averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 52.5% from the field, 41.7% from three-point range and 88.5% from the free-throw line.
Will Kawhi Leonard lose his Team USA roster spot due to his latest injury?
Kawhi Leonard received the 12th and final spot on Team USA’s roster for the 2024 Olympics. Shams Charania provided an update on how his latest injury could affect his roster spot, stating:
Team USA has to be, also, on alert as far as will Kawhi Leonard really go through with being on this team. The injury aspect is a concern. If he does not play this postseason, of course, it’s something you have to look at.
Check out Shams Charania’s full comments on Kawhi Leonard’s Team USA status:
While Leonard stayed relatively healthy throughout the regular season, he has missed 12 of the Clippers last 14 postseason games. Barring further injuries, however, he should be in Paris representing Team USA in the Olympics this summer.
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