With a strong opening-night showing in the books, Kawhi Leonard is officially back. Impressive as he was, the Clippers are taking a cautious approach to the superstar’s workload this season.
After Leonard missed the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign to rehab his reconstructed right ACL, Los Angeles is easing the 31-year-old back into action by bringing him off the bench and placing him under a strict minutes restriction to open the year. According to new developments, Leonard won’t be suiting up for every game, either.
Leonard saw 21 minutes of action on opening night, scoring 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting to help lead the Clippers to a six-point win over the Lakers. Following the game, Leonard gave some indication that there will be scheduled absences throughout his return to form, so don’t be too alarmed when he is ruled inactive for a Clippers game.
What’s next for Leonard? Here’s what we know about his injury and when he will return to the floor for the Clippers.
MORE: NBA awards, standings, playoff predictions for 2022-23 season
What is Kawhi Leonard’s injury?
On June 14, 2021, Leonard exited Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals with a knee injury that was later ruled a partially torn ACL. Weeks later, Leonard underwent successful surgery to repair the injury.
After sitting out the 2021-22 season, Leonard returned to the floor for the first time in 476 days when he played in the Clippers’ preseason contest against the Trail Blazers.
Ahead of LA’s opening-night meeting with the Lakers, reports surfaced that Leonard would come off the bench to limit his rotational minutes and manage his injury recovery.
MORE: How Kawhi Leonard recovered from partial ACL tear
How long will Kawhi Leonard be out?
Leonard is out for Sunday’s game against the Pelicans because of “injury management.” He will also be out for LA’s meeting with Houston on Monday.
These mark his third and fourth consecutive absences since playing in two of the Clippers’ first three games.
Kawhi Leonard is OUT for tomorrow’s game vs. the Pelicans with right knee injury management. It’s his 3rd consecutive missed game.
Robert Covington is DOUBTFUL with an illness.
Moussa Diabate, Jason Preston, and Brandon Boston are on G-League assignment.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 30, 2022
Kawhi Leonard is also OUT tomorrow vs. the Rockets, Clippers coach Ty Lue says.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 30, 2022
Following his impressive debut, Leonard told reporters that it would likely be a while before he plays in games on back-to-back nights, but he will now miss five of the team’s first seven games.
Not playing on consecutive nights isn’t a foreign concept for Leonard, who has played in both games of a back-to-back set only seven out of a possible 26 times since he was traded to the Raptors in 2018.
Clippers schedule 2022-23
Beginning with meetings against the Kings and Suns on Oct. 22 and 23, the Clippers have 15 back-to-backs in the 2022-23 season, seven of which come before the calendar flips to 2023.
With eight back-to-backs coming after January, LA could adopt a different approach by season’s end.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel (US) |
| Oct. 30 | vs. Pelicans | 3 p.m. | — |
| Oct. 31 | vs. Rockets | 10:30 p.m. | — |
| Nov. 2 | at Rockets | 8 p.m. | — |
| Nov. 4 | at Spurs | 8 p.m. | — |
| Nov. 6 | vs. Jazz | 10 p.m. | — |
| Nov. 7 | vs. Cavaliers | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Nov. 9 | vs. Lakers | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
| Nov. 12 | vs. Nets | 4 p.m. | — |
| Nov. 14 | at Rockets | 8 p.m. | — |
| Nov. 15 | at Mavericks | 8:30 p.m. | — |
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Kawhi Leonard career stats, highlights
- 19.2 points per game
- 6.4 rebounds per game
- 2.9 assists per game
- 1.8 steals per game
- 31.3 minutes per game
- 49.3 percent field goal shooting
- 38.4 percent 3-point field goal shooting
