Months after losing star Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers, many expect the Los Angeles Clippers to take a step back in the standings next season. Now, following the most recent development, the Clippers will have an even more difficult time posing as a legitimate threat in the competitive Western Conference. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, star Kawhi Leonard will miss an “indefinite period of time” at the beginning of the regular season due to right knee inflammation.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is expected to be sidelined for indefinite period of time to start the NBA season as he rehabilitates the inflammation in his right knee, league sources tell me and @NotoriousOHM. pic.twitter.com/M5wFYIWGiv
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 17, 2024
Leonard had already been ruled out for the entirety of the preseason and had not taken contact during practice. Furthermore, earlier reports said that Leonard was “doubtful” to be ready for the start of the Clippers’ season.
The 33-year-old missed three playoff games and left the 2024 Paris Olympics early due to the injury.
Los Angeles Clippers Star Will Miss ‘Indefinite Period of Time’
What Kawhi Leonard’s Absence Means for the Clippers
The Clippers losing Leonard to begin the season is unfortunate, to say the least. They were already on the outside looking in when it came to championship contention in the Western Conference. Following George’s departure and Leonard’s injury, it is safe to assume the Clippers will have a rough start to the upcoming season.
When healthy, Leonard remains one of the best two-way players the NBA has ever seen. He is still an elite defender and is just as productive on the offensive side of the ball. Last season, he appeared in 68 regular season games. This was his most amount of games played in a season since the 2016-17 season when he was with the San Antonio Spurs. During his 2023-24 season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Additionally, he made an All-Star team and earned All-NBA Second Team honors.
There is no doubt that Leonard can still play a high level of basketball when he is on the court. Unfortunately for him and the Clippers, injuries continue to get in the way of his success.
The Last Word On Kawhi Leonard
With Leonard out of the picture at least to start the 2024-25 season, the Clippers will likely rely more heavily on James Harden to carry the team. While he is not the same MVP-caliber star he was at his peak, Harden is still a very solid player.
Last season, in a much smaller role than usual, Harden averaged 16.6 points on 42.8% from the field. He also shot 38.1% from beyond the arc. Additionally, he averaged 5.1 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. The 35-year-old re-signed with the team this summer on a two-year, $70 million contract. Now, he has the opportunity to prove that he can still take the league by storm, much like he did with the Houston Rockets.
The Clippers will kick off their season on October 23 at home against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.
