Kawhi Leonard injury update: Clippers share latest status of 2x NBA champion's knee recovery ahead of training camp

The 2024-25 NBA season is slowly approaching and LA Clippers fans are curious to know about Kawhi Leonard's health heading into the season. Over the summer, he committed to USA Basketball but was dropped from the squad because of knee injury concerns.

Since joining the Clippers, Leonard has been marred by injuries, often hindering him from helping the team. The two-time champion has only appeared in 229 games since joining the organization.

During the 2021-22 season, he missed the entire campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL. Luckily, Leonard was healthy last season and appeared in 68 games, his first 60-game season since the 2018-19 campaign.

Still, there's concern over his health. He's dealt with various lower body injuries over the years and it was the reason he only suited up for two games in back-to-back postseason appearances.

Lawrence Frank, the president of the Clippers, provided an update on Leonard's condition. Frank said there has been a noticeable decrease in the inflammation in his right knee, which has been the main issue since the postseason. The organization's president also mentioned that the star is in a good position.

The team stated that some drills will not be allowed for Leonard throughout training camp, in terms of what they are focusing on doing with him. The Clippers will concentrate on strengthening and loading with the two-time Finals MVP.

"He wants to participate in everything in training camp, but we're going to hold him back from drill work and really focus on strengthening because the goal is to get him 100% so that he can have a great season," Frank said.

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With Paul George's exit, Leonard is expected to do most of the heavy lifting, especially on the offensive end. He still has a star teammate in James Harden, who showed promise last season. Harden registered 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists.

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No timetable for Kawhi Leonard's return to action

Despite the prolonged break over the summer, the star still isn't 100% healthy and the Clippers are taking a cautious approach in handling Leonard's injury.

According to Sportskeeda's Mark Medina, there isn't any confirmed return date for the star. It was the team's president, Frank, who shared the update. The 2020 NBA Executive of the Year said that there isn't "a crystal ball" on Leonard's availability for the team's season opener on Oct. 23, Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns.

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"I think Kawhi is going to have a great year. When healthy, he is one of the greatest players in the world," Frank said via Medina.

The two-way forward plays a significant role in the team's playoff chances. Last season, he averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Leonard was named an All-Star and part of the All-NBA Second Team.

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