The Los Angeles Clippers continue to be committed to Kawi Leonard despite their long history of injury, but recent developments should ultimately be optimistic about their franchise’s ability to stay healthy.
The Los Angeles Clippers lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season, and for the first time since 2020, their season didn’t end with an injury to Cowhileonard.
Leonard slowly surged after missing the first 34 games of the season, and the great plays of James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivika Zubak were on their feet.
The Clippers ran into Denver’s Nuggets in the first round, but it appears they’ve found a way to win with Leonard by making him miss the first few games rather than the last one.
Leonard has not enjoyed a perfect, healthy postseason since 2020. Instead, he spent the summer, under a knife or simply resting.
So far this summer, he has lived in the gym and has hone his game for the first time in six months.
“Kowhi Leonard trained all the way through to the end of the NBA Finals so that his body was revitalized to play deep into the playoffs,” said Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
“And this will be his first offseason for a long time, and he can only focus on improving the game and working out, not rehabilitation, which is very important to me.
“I think we saw it in the playoffs last year. He looked really good at first. It’ll be hard for him to maintain that level after he’s injured, but now I look forward to it and they feel he can continue training like he used to.”
With their core back and the addition of Champion Center Brook Lopez, the Clippers should be even more dangerous if they’re dealing with him this summer, especially with the bounty of a healthy Leonard.
“And I like the pieces they put around him,” Young Misque continued. “Perhaps they have one of the best frontlines in the league. I think this is the team that made Denver a seven-game. Now you’re adding Brook Lopez.”
Leonard’s full offseason is less important if he relies on a considerable amount of time after an All-Star break.
Last year, the Clippers did not start Leonard’s season until January, mainly due to concerns about his longevity. This year, they need to carry themselves with the same attention.
The West is loading more of the upcoming season than last year, but Lopez, Harden, Powell and Zubuck will avoid the play-in tournament and add Leonard later in the season, allowing him to get healthy throughout the postseason.
The Clippers made one big addition, saw no major losses and were able to maintain their elite coaching staff so far.
Leonard has been traded for a long time in degenerative muscle state, so working for eight or nine months is simply not sustainable, but his ability to stay healthy throughout seven playoff games and continue training after being eliminated should be a sign of what’s good going forward.