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The games will count in the standings the next time Kawhi Leonard takes the court.
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue told reporters Monday that Leonard will not play during the team’s preseason schedule as he rehabs his knee injury. The revelation came ahead of Monday’s preseason contest against the Dallas Mavericks.
This comes after the six-time All-Star withdrew from the 2024 Paris Olympics. Boston Celtics guard Derrick White replaced him on the Team USA roster, and the Americans ended up winning the gold medal.
Leonard played just two of the Clippers’ six games in their first-round loss to the Mavericks in last season’s playoffs, and he and the team clearly don’t want to risk any further setbacks playing in preseason contests.
He isn’t someone who needs a lot of preseason reps, as he has been in the league since 2011 and is one of the best players of his generation.
The 33-year-old’s resume includes two championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, six All-NBA selections, seven All-Defensive selections, six All-Star nods and a spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team.
Yet injuries and availability have been a concern at times throughout Leonard’s career.
He missed the 2021-22 campaign, played nine games in 2017-18 and hasn’t played more than 68 games since 2016-17. To be fair, he played 68 games just last season and was generally healthy until the setback in the playoffs.
Los Angeles will likely need Leonard healthy if it is going to compete for a deep playoff run in the loaded Western Conference, so it is taking the necessary precautions at this time of year.
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