The LA Clippers came into the 2022-23 NBA season knowing that they would have some restrictions to navigate in the early going. This is a team that was undone by injuries last season, so they have a number of players in their rotation this season whose minutes will be monitored for a few weeks and eventually ramped up.
One of those players is All-Star, Kawhi Leonard. Leonard injured his knee during the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz. He missed the entire 2021-22 campaign as a result as the Clippers weren’t going to rush him back to the court.
Los Angeles has bigger plans than winning games in October as they are among the true contenders for the NBA Finals this season. But, there has to be some concern with Leonard’s knee as he just can’t seem to get right.
Unbeknownst to anyone outside of the organization coming into opening night, Leonard was on a strict minutes limit and they decided to bring him off the bench. He has played in only two out of the team’s seven games this season and he is set to miss at least two more.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kawhi Leonard & LA Clippers Updates
Leonard is dealing with stiffness in his surgically repaired right knee and is not going to be traveling with the team for their upcoming Texas trip as they will pay a visit to the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. While head coach Tyronn Lue said that Leonard is feeling better, he will be missing at least six straight games now.
“He’s frustrated,” Lue said before the Clippers faced off with the Rockets on Monday night. “He wants to be out on the floor and then not being on the floor, and then now he can’t travel. He wants to travel, but the doctor said it’s not the right thing to do right now with the stiffness and what he is going through.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kawhi Leonard & LA Clippers Updates
The Clippers have gotten off to a slow start as they are 3-4. There is a lot to iron out as the team is trying to find a rhythm with some new faces in town and players returning from long layoffs. John Wall is another player on a minutes restriction as he didn’t play last season either as the Rockets sought out a trade partner that would take him on.
Leonard put in a ton of work over the last 15 months to get back on the court, so his frustrations are easy to understand. This wasn’t the first time that he dealt with a lengthy injury rehab in his career, but it certainly seems to be the one that he is struggling the most to return from.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kawhi Leonard & LA Clippers Updates
The next possible time we will see Leonard on the court is Sunday when the Clippers will be playing against the Utah Jazz.
