Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard Will Be Ready for Training Camp amid Knee Injury, Ty Lue Says

Zach BacharContributor IAugust 28, 2024

Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is expected to be ready for the start of the team’s training camp on Oct. 1 as he recovers from a knee injury.

“I speak to him all the time,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said, per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “He’ll be ready for [Clippers] training camp. He’s feeling good and I know he’ll be ready for training camp.”

Leonard dealt with knee inflammation throughout the end of the 2023-24 season and was initially expected to join the U.S. men’s national team in the Paris Olympics before he was eventually replaced.

Knee issues have plagued Leonard throughout his tenure with Los Angeles, as he’s only played over 60 games in just one season since joining the team in 2019. He also missed his entire 2021-22 campaign due to a torn ACL.

Although his 68 appearances during the 2023-24 season represented the highest mark for Leonard since 2017, he only suited up in two contests during the Clippers’ first-round playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks due to the knee inflammation.

The six-time All-Star should have an even larger role in Lue’s offense next season after Paul George left to join the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $212 million contract in free agency.

While James Harden will be back to help carry the lead ball-handling burden after re-signing with the Clippers, Leonard’s availability will heavily impact the team’s status in the Western Conference standings. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year owned the second-best net rating among Los Angeles’ players to appear in at least 10 games last season (via NBA.com).

He’s also remained efficient offensively despite his injuries, shooting over 51 percent from the field and 41 percent from three in each of the past two years.

With offseason additions such as Derrick Jones Jr. and Nicolas Batum, Leonard should be available at the start of training camp as he attempts to lead a new-look Clippers team back to the playoffs.