Kawhi Leonard Set to Return, Clippers Get Much Needed Boost

The Clippers have had a good run recently, and things are about to get even better. Much, much better. Reports state that superstar Kawhi Leonard, who has yet to play in a single game this season, is getting ready to get back out onto the court in just a few days time.

While many speculated the strong wing would sit out the entirety of the 2024-2025 season, or that his comeback would take at least a few more months, his rehab seems to be going according to plan and he’s on track to make his official season debut.

(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Leonard first went down with a knee injury he sustained during the offseason, which came as no surprise to Clippers fans. He’s missed plenty of time during his career, sitting out 210 or 467 possible games since moving to Los Angeles.

Not only did a torn ACL cause him to miss the entirety of the 2021-2022 season, but his 74 games played last year were the most games he played during an entire season since 2016.

Despite that, even a mildly healthy Leonard taking some rest days off is better than most players. The Clippers will definitely be happy to have him.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Reports about Leonard’s return first began at the end of November when fans caught him doing some routine warmups and basic drills. After that, the Clippers stated he was making progress but refused to provide an accurate timeline for his return.

Now, they set a date. The organization recently reported that Leonard plans to return to action on January 4th against the Hawks on the stipulation that he doesn’t have any further setbacks. If he does, he’s still expected to return sometime in early January.

The guard first officially returned to practice on December 10th, but did not have full contact clearance at that time due to the persistent inflammation in his right knee. Some reports stated he would return to game action within two weeks of that time, but things shifted.

Now, the Clippers officially recalled Leonard from their G League team. Unlike the practice news, which had a lot of smoke and mirrors, the recall shows he’s ready to make something happen.

One of the Best

Leonard is quite injury prone, an aspect that has held him back his entire career. Despite that, his ceiling is so high he’s impossible not to take a chance on. He has two rings, led the Raptors to their first-ever championship on his own, and took home two NBA Finals MVPs.

He also has two Defensive Players of the Year awards, seven all-defensive team selections, six all-star appearances, and earned All-NBA honors six times. He’s even averaging 20 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3 assists a game throughout his entire career.

Taking all of that into account, it’s clear that the Clippers will be happy to have him back. He adds plenty of different dimensions to a team that’s been largely kept afloat by the sharp shooting of James Harden and the high-level play of Normal Powell.

Both players are thriving this season, and doing so with a pretty strong supporting cast that focuses on quick defense and hustle plays. Their style is working, but winning in the NBA takes more than a well-rounded cast, it takes a superstar. That’s where Leonard comes in.

Making a Push

The Clippers are currently 18-13, which is good enough for the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings. They have won six of their last ten, have fought hard in big games, and are playing to stay ahead of the play-in games.

The season, however, is quite long. They might have a good run now, but there’s a lot of basketball left in what is a very tight race. With many other teams making moves, or planning on bringing in additional talent, the Clippers don’t want to get left in the dust.

Adding Leonard back to the roster, even if he’ll be easing back in, is something that helps on multiple fronts. Not only does it give them another two-way threat to go alongside Powell and Harden, but it allows them to sit out of the trade market if they so much.

Many teams are currently scrambling to bring in talent where they can. Such moves are how NBA teams get better, but they almost always come at the cost of future draft capital. The Clippers already being above .500 and getting Leonard back means they don’t need to run out and make a deal to keep up their winning ways.

There’s no telling how strong Leonard will be out of the gates, nor is it known how he’ll affect the rotation. All that’s certain is that he’s going to make Los Angeles better. For a team with playoff aspirations, it’s hard to ask for more than that.