Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has encountered significant hurdles this offseason due to persistent inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. This ongoing issue has complicated Leonard's path to recovery and has necessitated varied and diligent treatments by the Clippers' medical team.
Managing the Inflammation
The Clippers have been proactive in addressing Leonard's knee problem since last season. The inflammation initially flared up during the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks. Leonard's participation was severely limited, and his struggle to stay on the court was evident as he only managed to play in two games of that series.
"I think the encouraging thing is we've seen progress," said Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' President of Basketball Operations. "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, what hasn't. It's truly unfortunate that he's had to deal with this, but I think we're definitely trending in the right direction."
The Clippers eventually lost the series to the Mavericks, underscoring the impact of Leonard's absence. The team now aims to prevent a recurrence of the inflammation as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Pre-Season Precautions
As a precaution, Leonard will not participate in drills at the upcoming training camp. The strategy is to focus on strengthening and loading his knee carefully. This approach is designed to ensure that Leonard can return to the court without further setbacks.
Frank elaborates on the strategy: "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."
International Duties on Hold
Despite his condition, Leonard had initially joined the training camp with USA Basketball. However, it soon became clear that he needed to prioritize his health above all else. Consequently, USA Basketball replaced Leonard with Derrick White, allowing him to dedicate himself fully to his rehabilitation with the Clippers.
"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 noted.
Future Uncertainties
The timeline for Leonard's return to regular-season action remains uncertain. The Clippers are taking a cautious approach, assessing Leonard's progress at each phase of his rehabilitation.
"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," said Frank, encapsulating the unpredictability surrounding Leonard's recovery.
For fans and the organization, the hope is that Leonard can make a full recovery and return to his top form. Until then, the Clippers will need to navigate the challenges that come with having one of their key players on a careful path to recovery.