Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue told NBA reporters that Kawhi Leonard is on pace to be ready for training camp. The two-time Finals MVP underwent surgery on his right knee after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee during the 2023 playoffs against the Phoenix Suns.
Leonard averaged 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in Games 1 and 2 of the first round against the Suns before missing the rest of the series because of the torn meniscus injury. The Suns beat the Clippers in five games.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kawhi Leonard, Tyronn Lue & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Leonard signed a four-year, $176.3 million contract with the Clippers in August 2021. He missed the entire 2021-22 season recovering from an ACL injury. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year appeared in 52 games last season, averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 51.2% from the field, 41.6% from beyond the arc and 87.1% from the free-throw line.
The Clippers signed Leonard in the summer of 2019 and traded for Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the franchise hasn’t reached the NBA Finals yet. Leonard and George have only played in 118 regular-season games together. Both stars have been prone to injuries since becoming teammates.
Leonard has played in 161 games with the Clippers. He’s averaging 25.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Law Murray, who covers the Clippers for The Athletic, wrote about how Leonard has never signed an extension in the NBA. The future Hall of Famer has played for the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Clippers.
“History says Leonard is likely reaching the open market,” Murray wrote. “The San Antonio Spurs did not reach an extension with Leonard in 2014 despite Leonard being the reigning NBA Finals MVP. Leonard reached restricted free agency in 2015 and signed a five-year maximum contract from there that included a player option. Leonard opted out of that contract after winning his second NBA Finals MVP in 2019, leaving the Toronto Raptors after one season to sign a three-year deal with the Clippers.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kawhi Leonard, Tyronn Lue & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Leonard and the Clippers are in no rush to get an extension done, according to NBA insider Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Leonard has a player option for the 2024-25 season worth $48.8 million.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
