Right knee injury of Kawhi Leonard has worsened the Los Angeles Clippers’ playoff exit, as the star forward reportedly sustained a torn meniscus, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Leonard missed the final three games of the Clippers’ playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, which they ultimately lost in five games.
Despite putting up strong numbers in the first two games of the series, scoring 38 points in a Game 1 win and 31 points in a Game 2 loss, Leonard’s injury was discovered prior to Game 3, and it’s unclear how long he will be sidelined.
This is not the first time that Leonard has experienced issues with his right knee. In 2021, he tore his ACL in the same knee, causing him to miss the entire 2021-22 NBA season while recovering from the injury. Prior to that, Leonard was diagnosed with right quadriceps tendinopathy when he played for the San Antonio Spurs, which limited him to just nine games during the 2017-18 NBA season.
However, despite these injuries, Leonard has remained an excellent player when healthy. In the three seasons following his tendinopathy diagnosis, Leonard averaged 26.2 points per game and made the All-Star team each year. He looked strong in his return from his ACL injury this season, averaging 23.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 52 games.
The Clippers will undoubtedly miss Leonard’s contributions, especially during the playoffs. Leonard has established himself as a top-tier player in the NBA, known for his ability to score efficiently and play lockdown defense. The Clippers’ chances of winning a championship without Leonard are greatly diminished.
As for Leonard, he now faces yet another setback in his career, and it remains to be seen how long he will be out. The team’s medical staff will undoubtedly take a cautious approach to his recovery, given his history of knee injuries. Nonetheless, fans will be hoping to see him back on the court as soon as possible, helping the Clippers compete at the highest level.
LA Clippers’ Future Uncertain as Kawhi Leonard Suffers Another Knee Injury
Kawhi Leonard, the LA Clippers’ star forward, reportedly sustained a torn meniscus in his right knee, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Leonard missed the final three games of the Clippers’ playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, which they lost in five games. It’s unclear how long he will be sidelined due to the injury.
This isn’t the first time Leonard has experienced issues with his right knee. He tore his ACL in the same knee in 2021, causing him to miss the entire 2021-22 NBA season. Prior to that, he was diagnosed with right quadriceps tendinopathy, limiting him to just nine games during the 2017-18 NBA season.
Despite his injury history, the Clippers remain committed to Leonard, according to a person familiar with their thinking. However, with Leonard turning 32 before the start of next season and his clock ticking, the Clippers need to figure out what to do regarding their long-term future.
Leonard’s injury is a significant setback for the Clippers, who have yet to achieve much success with their star players. Despite acquiring Leonard and Paul George in 2019, they’ve been unable to achieve any significant postseason results. With both players having identical contracts running through the summer of 2025, the Clippers need to find a way to keep their stars healthy and produce results.
