Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has had a trying offseason, grappling with persistent inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. This ongoing issue has severely impacted his ability to perform, with the Clippers taking multiple steps to manage the condition since last season.
Leonard's struggle with knee inflammation came to a head during the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, where he was limited to just two games. This constraint proved costly, as the Clippers ultimately lost the series to the Mavericks.
Focused Rehabilitation
To avoid a similar scenario in the future, the Clippers have decided to hold Leonard out of drills during the upcoming training camp. The aim is to prevent a recurrence of the knee inflammation. The team's strategy centers on strengthening and loading Leonard’s knee, hoping to create long-term resilience.
“I think the encouraging thing is we've seen progress. This was a real tricky thing in terms of the inflammation. We're kind of searching for answers along the way, and with time we continue to learn more about what works and what doesn’t. It’s truly unfortunate that he’s had to deal with this, but I think we’re definitely trending in the right direction,” said Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' President of Basketball Operations.
Lessons Learned
Reflecting on the previous season, Frank discussed lessons learned from Leonard’s experience during the Dallas playoffs. “We're just really going to focus on strengthening and loading. I think we learned some lessons. Just if you think about it, he desperately wanted to come back and play in that Dallas series, and within a game and a half, the inflammation came where it wasn't manageable, so we don't want to put ourselves in that position,” Frank elaborated.
Despite his knee issues, Leonard participated in training camp with USA Basketball. However, understanding the need for focused rehabilitation, USA Basketball opted to replace Leonard with Derrick White, allowing Leonard to concentrate on recovering with the Clippers.
Managing Expectations
While the team's efforts have yielded some progress, there is still uncertainty surrounding Leonard's exact timeline for returning to regular-season action. “We got the knee in a really, really good place. [He came] back for Dallas [in the playoffs] and it has been manageable since. But we really, really spent the offseason trying to get this 100% and I think we're getting closer and closer,” Frank remarked, illustrating the delicate balance the team is striving for.
The overarching sentiment is one of cautious optimism. Frank encapsulated the prevailing uncertainty: “I think that the timing's all going to basically depend on how his knee responds to each phase. No one has a crystal ball.”
As Leonard and the Clippers navigate this period of rehabilitation and conditioning, the fans' anticipation for his return continues to grow. While the road to recovery and full strength remains unpredictable, the efforts made by the team and Leonard himself reflect a commitment to overcoming these challenges and aiming for a successful season ahead.