LA Clippers need Kawhi Leonard healthy to challenge for the championship

Kawhi Leonard has played in just two games for the Los Angeles Clippers this season, following a setback in his surgically repaired knee.

After missing the entire 2021/22 season due to an ACL injury, the two-time NBA champion returned to action in October. However, he appeared in just two games, leading his team to a 2-0 start, but has since been sidelined with what the team has called a right knee stiffness.

Kawhi Leonard last played on October 23 and has missed the next 10 Clippers games. Over the last three weeks, the team has been relatively quiet about the superstar's condition, with only sporadic updates.

Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, spoke with the media on Friday ahead of Saturday's home game against the Brooklyn Nets and mentioned Kawhi Leonard's progress.

Lue said the superstar guard took the floor and participated in a 5-on-5 workout, but there is still no timetable for his return.

"He played 5 on 5 with some of our guys, some of the players, and some of the coaches," Lue told media, via ESPN.

"Still have a ways to go, but that was the first sign of positivity of him getting on the floor, playing 5-on-5."

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Clippers set to remain cautious until Kawhi Leonard is fully healthy

Kawhi Leonard has a history of injury and load management since his time with the San Antonio Spurs. He has not played 70 games in a season since 2017. So, sitting him out immediately after the stiffness he felt didn't come as a surprise.

The Clippers decided to take Kawhi Leonard off the bench early in the season, where he averaged 21 minutes over his first two games. Expect the franchise to follow a similar path upon his return until he is fully healthy.

“It's gonna take a few more [workout] opportunities to get that in,” Lue said when asked about when Leonard can play again. “Then kind of reassess him to see how he's feeling after we go to medical and just kind of see if we check all the boxes."

Despite missing one of their two superstars, the Clippers are progressing well, aiming to maintain a top-4 push in the Western Conference.

They have managed to climb out of the early-season hole with a 2-4 start. They have since won five of their last six and are now sixth in the standings with a 7-5 record.

Paul George has been leading the way for the squad, averaging 25.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.

The Clippers are coming off another win over their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, which was their second straight this season (2-0) and ninth in a row since the start of the 2020-21 season under head coach Tyronn Lue.

They have won two straight and aim to extend it to three with a victory over the Nets, maintaining their momentum.

Kawhi Leonard's progress is clearly great news for the franchise, but the two-time champion will remain out for the foreseeable future, possibly making his return by the end of the month or early December.

It is also clear that he will need time to reach his peak, but the Clippers know that if they are to make a real title run, they will need Kawhi Leonard to be healthy and on the floor.