Kawhi Leonard ‘very cautious’ managing knee since procedure, talks Clippers future with James Harden

Kawhi Leonard ‘very cautious’ managing knee since procedure, talks Clippers future with James Harden

Kawhi Leonard has been unable to finish any of the last four seasons for the LA Clippers. With the team set to hold Leonard out of drills to start training camp due to management of his surgically repaired right knee, Leonard spoke Monday about his hope that the inflammation that ruined his postseason and national team run will be under control enough to allow him to play next season.

“Taking it day by day,” Leonard said at the team’s media day at Intuit Dome. “Everything has been going great for the past month. But being very cautious for reasons in the past. I haven’t been able to finish some playoff runs.

So making sure I stay healthy for those important moments.”

Leonard, 33, has undergone surgery on his right knee three times since suffering a partially torn ACL in the 2021 Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz. In July 2021, Leonard underwent surgery that kept him out of the entire 2021-22 season.

Leonard returned to postseason play in 2023, only to suffer a torn meniscus that required surgery that offseason. Leonard’s knee wasn’t an issue last season until April, but the swelling kept him from finishing the regular season, limited him in Games 2 and 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Dallas Mavericks, then curtailed his playoff run prematurely while the Clippers were eliminated in six games.

“I played my most games I played in a long time last year, played like 68 games and was one of the guys that probably didn’t take a rest break earlier on in the season,” Leonard said Monday. “Obviously, the last two years, I came back from an ACL and been injured. It’s a progression for me.

“It was successful as far as last year. Obviously, from a fan base or just from my own competitive nature, we didn’t reach a goal. But the grand scheme of things and how my body’s been doing it, it was a good year. I went from zero games to 52 to 68. So let’s see if I can keep it going from there.”