There was an expectation that Kawhi Leonard would be able to return healthy for the 2022–23 NBA season when he missed the 2021–22 campaign while healing from an ACL tear. That wasn’t the case. Leonard has only played 42 minutes in total throughout his first two games this season, despite playing on opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers. On October 23 against the Suns, he made his second appearance and hasn’t played since. Apart from treating the identical right knee ailment, there hasn’t been a convincing justification for why that occurs. Clippers coach Ty Lue brought up Leonard’s condition on Sunday, saying the team is unsure of his return date.
If Leonard’s position is now more considered week-to-week than day-to-day, Lue responded to reporters by saying, “There’s not a time range of when he is going to be back.” “Right now, we’re simply taking each day as it comes, not a timeframe,” a family member said. “The biggest part is just the testing that he needs to go through with the medical and the slow pace of just getting better every single day.”
Leonard has only appeared in 111 regular-season games with the Clippers in his fourth season in Los Angeles. The Clippers recovered from a 2-4 start to win three straight games before losing to the Utah Jazz on Sunday. They now have a season record of 5-5, but there are still significant doubts about this team’s ability to compete without Leonard. Only the Lakers score more points per 100 possessions than the Clippers, who scored just 103. They have managed to stay in business thanks to their fourth-ranked defense.
But if Leonard isn’t healthy when it counts, that defense won’t matter. Leonard suffered from a quad condition that has persisted since his time in San Antonio, in addition to knee problems. The Clippers’ biggest narrative this season will be how they manage his health. They cannot be champions if he cannot remain on the floor. That’s all there is to it.