LA Clippers fans have long awaited the return of Kawhi Leonard to the basketball court. Thankfully, the answer is sooner than later. It’s music to the ears of Clippers fans as their $153 million man is on the brink of officially stepping onto the court this season. Los Angeles has been playing pretty well so far this season; some may be more surprised than others as to how the Clippers have performed. However, they are going to need their superstar to get to the playoffs.
Potential Return Date for Kawhi Leonard is Near
Kawhi Leonard is getting closer and closer to making his season debut for the Clippers. But when exactly should we expect to see him? If all goes well, we may expect the six-time All-Star as early as Christmas or early January. Leonard will need just a couple more weeks until he can suit up in a Clippers uniform.
Clippers Head Coach Tyronn Lue has given his thoughts and expectations for Kawhi’s eventual return. In recent comments about Leonard, Lue talks about what it means for Leonard to be participating with the team again:
Ty Lue on Kawhi Leonard being back on the court with the Clippers:
“It raised our energy. Just for our guys to see him on the floor brought a juice to our team. We needed that jolt.”
Lue said Kawhi is really intrigued by what the Clippers have done defensively. pic.twitter.com/oSHGFg9lyl
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) December 10, 2024
Without Kawhi, the Clippers have been primarily led by a core of three players: James Harden, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac. Harden has shown that with his decade and a half of experience in the association, his leadership and all-around play have blossomed this Clippers team to where they currently are at 14-11. Powell has been one of the more impressive players to begin this season, so far averaging a career-best of 23.6 points a game. Zubac has cemented himself as a crucial piece to the Clippers’ formula by doing something he’s shockingly never done before. Zubac is averaging a double-double, scoring 14.8 points and hauling in 12.2 rebounds per game.
Clippers Defense Making a Name for Itself
Leonard should come back to his usual self, even though it may take some time to get back into a groove. He has primarily been known to be one of, if not the, best defender in basketball. Leonard is coming into a situation where the Clips’ defense has been absolutely stellar. From the defensive mind of head assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy, LA has created a defensive identity.
Currently, the Clippers rebounding percentage of 51.5% ranks fifth in the league. Also, LA is fourth in steals (9.4 per game) and sixth in defensive rating (108.5). Along with being the top ten in the league in allowing points in the paint (46.3) and deflections (17.0) per game, this Clippers team is making a statement on the defensive end of the court.
How Will Leonard’s Return Fit with This Clippers Team?
Having all of this in mind, there is a question that remains within the Clippers. With Leonard coming back, assuming he is immediately plugged into the starting lineup, how will Tyronn Lue use Norman Powell? What adjustments can we see Lue make? It may make the most sense to have Harden as the primary ball handler while the wings will contain the strong tandem of the 2019 champions Leonard and Powell. It’s likely Powell’s while his numbers and shot attempts will decline nevertheless, he will continue to provide the Clippers with efficient and consistent offense.
As a whole, the Clippers are performing better than expected without their star player. As of December 13, with a 14-11 record and sixth place in the Western Conference, LA has made strides in what can be an exciting playoff race ahead in 2025. Clippers trail half a game behind the Golden State Warriors and only two games separating the Pacific division. This may very well be the story to watch going into the new year in the West. LA will certainly need the return of Kawhi Leonard and the current core to help carry them into April. Hopefully, we will be able to see that from this team very soon.
