The Los Angeles Clippers have confirmed that Kawhi Leonard, their key player, will miss an indefinite period due to ongoing issues with right knee inflammation despite the urgent need to compete in the NBA playoffs.
This announcement was made by Lawrence Frank, the team’s president of basketball operations, ahead of their critical Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers currently face a 2-1 series deficit.
Leonard, who returned from a knee inflammation absence that began on March 31, struggled with mobility in recent games.
“Kawhi won’t be playing today,” Frank revealed. “Despite his eagerness to be on the court, it became clear after Game 3 that his movement was significantly hindered. We’ve decided it’s best for him to sit out until he is fully capable of performing the necessary on-court actions.”
Leonard, who will turn 33 in June, signed a substantial three-year contract extension with the Clippers worth $152.4 million last January, extending his commitment through the 2026-27 season.
Since joining the Clippers in 2019, Leonard’s time with the team has unfortunately been riddled with injuries, including severe setbacks to his right knee such as a torn ACL during the 2021 playoffs and a torn meniscus in the previous postseason.
This season, Leonard played 68 games, marking his most active season with the Clippers, and posted averages of 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue expressed deep sympathy for Leonard: “It’s devastating for Kawhi. He’s put so much effort into this season, participating in the most games since joining us, all to be ready for the playoffs. To see him unable to compete at his best is truly disheartening.”
However, Lue remains optimistic about the team’s resilience. “We have experience playing without Kawhi and understand what’s required to win. We are prepared and will continue to follow our game plan,” Lue affirmed.
Despite Leonard’s absence, the team remains focused on overcoming the challenge and advancing in the playoffs.
