The Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard is set to play his first game this season against the Atlanta Hawks tonight in LA’s new arena, the Intuit Dome. The last time he took home court was during an April playoff game against Dallas in the Clippers’ old Crytpo.com Arena, formerly known as the Staples’ Center.
In the offseason, Leonard underwent what was mysteriously labeled a “knee procedure,” the latest event in the beleaguered star’s ongoing series of health problems over the second half of his career. Along with Joel Embiid, he has become the poster child of “load management” in the NBA, sitting games even when healthy to mitigate injury risk.
It isn’t as soon as the Clippers hoped, but finally it seems he is ready for action, joining a lineup that includes James Harden, a surging Norm Powell, and several familiar faces–as well a few new additions–from the once title-hopeful core.
Kawhi Leonard Rejoins a Same But Different Los Angeles Clippers Crew
When the report of his operation emerged in late September, Clippers staff remained “optimistic” about Leonard’s chances of an efficient rehab process. Inclusion in the opening night lineup wasn’t out of the question.
Fast-forward three months and the team has played 34 games without him. They have fared fine without him, entering tonight’s contest 19-15 in sixth place in the Western Conference.
Though well past his heyday, Harden continues to produce at a clip of 21.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 7.8 APG as the offense’s number one option. Powell has averaged a career-best 23.6 points while shooting 44.1% on threes at high volume (8.1 attempts per game). With more to go around for everyone, center Ivica Zubac is having a career-year as well and averaging a double-double–14.9 PPG and 12.4 boards.
Offseason pickups Derrick Jones and Kevin Porter Jr. are both contributing as role players, and the ageless Amir Coffey keeps chewing up minutes like cud.
Leonard is projected to slide into the starting rotation at small forward, rather than coming off the bench in his first game back, but he will likely have a minutes restriction.
Led by Trae Young (22.6 PPG, 11.9 APG), the Hawks come in at 18-17 but burdened with a messy injury report as of Saturday evening. Young, forward Jalen Johnson (19.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG) and guard Bojan Bogdanovic, who just returned Friday against the Lakers after missing nearly two weeks . Big men Larry Nance Jr. and Cody Zeller are out. PJ Tucker remains sidelined for the Clippers.
A Core Group, a Career, in Its Twilight
When Paul George left the Clippers for the 76ers after yet another failed postseason run, and after LA failed to add a replacement in the offseason, no one had high hopes for this team. And, while respectable, they haven’t been anything special. Nor will they be, unless Leonard can stay on the court and play at a high level while Powell establishes himself as a legitimate third option and Zubac does his thing.
The financial strain caused by Leonard’s 3-year, $153 million extension signed last January was a big reason why the Clippers couldn’t–or didn’t–offer a max deal to his wingmate George. When they finally caved following a prolonged and drama-filled negotiation process, George had moved on to other plans. Specifically, a 4-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia.
As constructed, the duo of George and Harden didn’t amount to much playoff success, anyway, tapping out at a conference finals appearance in 2020-2021. Adding Harden did not improve their luck.
In large part, their underachievement is tied to Leonard’s inability to stay healthy, especially in the playoffs. Last year played in just two. The year before, same thing.
The deterioration of his career has been one of the league’s biggest shames over the past several seasons. Last year was the first time he did not miss 20 or more games since 2016-2017, his final healthy campaign for the San Antonio Spurs. Across 68 contests in 2023-24, the future Hall of Famer averaged 23.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 3.6 APG while notching a 52.5 FG% and shooting 41.7% from deep.
If he can get back to that and stay at least somewhat uninjured, the Clippers will substantially elevate their ceiling–no, not even to conference finals level, but they might gives opponents problems in the first round That, though, is a major-if. In fact, given his track record, it is unlikely to happen. For a start, though, it would just be nice to see one of the generation’s greatest on a basketball court at tipoff.
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