Draymond Green slams Kendrick Perkins for urging Kawhi Leonard to retire from NBA - "Averaged 2.5 points for 3 years"
Amid LA Clippers superstar forward Kawhi Leonard's repeated right knee troubles, ESPN's Kendrick Perkins suggested he consider retirement. However, Golden State Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green pushed back, calling attention to Perkins' late NBA career shortcomings.
Leonard is reportedly out indefinitely to begin the 2024-25 season as he rehabilitates from right knee inflammation. The two-time NBA champion underwent an offseason procedure to address the ailment, which limited him to two 2024 playoff outings.
Nevertheless, Leonard continues to face setbacks, with reports emerging that his past ACL and meniscus right knee surgeries could be "complicating his recovery."
With Leonard's future in question, Perkins called for him to consider calling it a career during an "NBA Today" segment last week.
"When you think about his history and you think about now ... six months, and there are still problems with his knee? In every single season there's a problem when it comes to Kawhi Leonard's health," Perkins said. "... I really think Kawhi Leonard should consider retiring."
However, during Tuesday's episode of "The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis," Green blasted Perkins for bringing up the possibility of Leonard retiring. The four-time NBA champion highlighted how even a compromised Leonard is a far more impactful player than Perkins was late in his career.
"To hear Perk say, 'Yeah, he needs to retire, he needs to consider retiring,' I thought that was crazy," Green said. "Because Perk, his last three years in the NBA, nobody was pushing him into retirement, and everybody probably should have. The man averaged 2.5 points (per game) for three years straight, and nobody was pushing you to retire."
Over his 14-year career, Perkins averaged 5.4 ppg. Moreover, he averaged 4.0 ppg or fewer over his final six seasons.
Conversely, Leonard averaged 23.7 ppg over 68 contests last season, earning his sixth All-Star selection. So, the Clippers will likely continue to be patient with their top player during his recovery process.
Draymond Green says Kawhi Leonard has earned benefit of doubt amid injury woes
During Draymond Green's podcast discussion about Kawhi Leonard's health status, he noted that the latter has earned the benefit of the doubt.
Green first reflected on Leonard's continued improvement over his first 12 seasons.
"But clearly, as you look at this, this is what has happened over time. The man hasn't cheated the game, he got better," Green said. "From the time he came into the NBA, he improved everything: Ball handling, shooting, you name it."
Green added that Leonard would be suiting up for the Clippers if he could.
"He started to get hurt, won championships, hasn't been the healthiest guy. People question whether he was really faking or not, and clearly, the man wasn't faking," Green said.
Leonard signed a three-year, $149.5 million contract extension in January. So, he doesn't appear to be on the verge of retirement. Nevertheless, his return timeline remains murky ahead of LA's Wednesday season opener against the Phoenix Suns.
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