Kawhi Leonard Injury update

[MartinToVaught]

I thought the whole Olympics tryout was ill-advised from the start, so I'm relieved that Kawhi's not going through with it. The last thing we needed was for him to go and get another serious injury in relatively meaningless games that Team USA should be able to win without him.

That said, I'm just counting down the days until we can finally trade him and get back to focusing on basketball, not injury reports. I know Kawhi can't help that he has a degenerative condition, but it's just gotten to be too much. For someone whose job is to play basketball, the fact that him not playing basketball is a relief because the risk of him getting injured is too high kind of says it all.

[og15]

It's generally a mystery with Kawhi, hopefully nothing serious.

I have gone away from trying to live in a fake reality. Kahwi has a degenerative knee condition, if this was 20 years ago he might have been retired already and gone the way of someone like Micheal Dickerson for example.

I just don't think there is any benefit of us acting like he's just a normal NBA athlete in terms of his bodies capabilities.

We are in the 4th straight season of him either not making it to or making it through the playoffs. The one year he made it through, there was a 4.5 month break in the season, we can't forget that part of 2020.

There is a high chance Kawhi does not make it to or through the playoffs again as a Clipper, much higher than the alternative. It's possible that if he was to make it, in order for him to do so, the team would have to do some drastic load management.

[Wammy Giveaway]

After reading the tweets and articles on Leonard's withdraw, I have to conclude that there is a major friction going on within the franchise altogether. Leonard is being accused of selective participation by only playing for teams like Team USA, leading certain fans to believe that he never wanted to play for the Clippers, and that he only chose them because it was his first ever free agency run and decided to relax, feeling that two titles with two teams (Spurs, Raptors) is just good enough. I think Clippers tried to stop Leonard from going for the good of the team but they were distracted by the negative attention they've been getting from George's departure, and the fear of pulling Leonard out of Team USA meant more negativity and perhaps irrelevancy.

I don't think Leonard pulled out, and Clippers went along with it in a way, making them complicit. This was a Team USA call; they were the ones who decided what's best for them.

I hate to say it, but the Clippers may be better off being controlled by a 3rd party. When they're the ones calling the shots, they suck. When it's somebody else like the NBA commissioner, or even Team USA, and there is a real threat of punishment, that's when the Clippers start behaving properly. Scared Straight, that's the best way to get the Clippers to run properly. In fact, their first conference finals berth was due to the fear of being down 3-0 where it could have been an automatic series loss and Leonard ditching them, so there is a pattern here of fear ultimately dictating Clipper's motives.

[wco81]

You really have to question how much KL can carry the Clippers, at the level of usage expected of superstars.

He may need to not try to lock players down on defense, except maybe down the stretch for a couple of crucial possessions.

Well leading scorers are not trying to pick up fouls going all out on defense early in games anyways.

Even then, you have to wonder how many regular seasons games and playoffs availability.

[esqtvd]

Good. I guess. July 4:

I'm so not into Kawhi doing this instead of preparing for the season. He's stolen Ballmer's money as far as I'm concerned. Mr. I Only Care About The Playoffs has played only 28 playoff games for Ballmer in 5 years. It took 24 to win that ring in his single season in Toronto.

I've been a fan for 40 years and they're doing everything they can to lose me. Kawhi and Ballmer are a lousy team. Kawhi is the tail that wags the dog.

But the alarming part is that it appears Kerr and Team USA were not giving him a clean bill of health based on his performance. He was up and down. Where the Clips fit in is hard to say. Doubtful it was they who pulled the plug.

Going forward, what we're looking at is the return of load management, and IMO it should be more directed toward limiting minutes to around 30 rather than missing games [although skipping b2bs will probably be part of it too]. What would probably be smartest for continuity's sake is making Kawhi the most expensive 6th man in NBA history but that's probably too sensible. Instead it'll be a different rotation every night again.

[Roscoe Sheed]

How can one not be sad for Kawhi and the clippers? It is so disheartening- he looked great for an extended stretch last season and now one wonders if he will ever be able to play more than 5 games in a row next season. Very strange- with guys like penny and c-Webb the decline was basically in a straight line whereas with Kawhi he still looks like an all nba first team player when he is feeling right. I can’t think of any other player like that

[madmaxmedia]

How can one not be sad for Kawhi and the clippers? It is so disheartening- he looked great for an extended stretch last season and now one wonders if he will ever be able to play more than 5 games in a row next season. Very strange- with guys like penny and c-Webb the decline was basically in a straight line whereas with Kawhi he still looks like an all nba first team player when he is feeling right. I can’t think of any other player like that

I guess due to all the missing time, he is a pretty young 33? (silver linings???)

It really is a shame, his stat line from last season was really, really good. 68 games too, but 0 playoff games...

[Roscoe Sheed]

How can one not be sad for Kawhi and the clippers? It is so disheartening- he looked great for an extended stretch last season and now one wonders if he will ever be able to play more than 5 games in a row next season. Very strange- with guys like penny and c-Webb the decline was basically in a straight line whereas with Kawhi he still looks like an all nba first team player when he is feeling right. I can’t think of any other player like that

I guess due to all the missing time, he is a pretty young 33? (silver linings???)

It really is a shame, his stat line from last season was really, really good. 68 games too, but 0 playoff games...

He actually played in 2 playoff games, but shouldn’t have

[KL2]

So they knew going in what they were facing and still let him go through all the hoopla. Not a good look for all involved.

It’s like telling a kid he can go into the candy store but the plan was he wouldn’t be able to pick anything out.

Read on Twitter

Or worse as we get more quotes.

Read on Twitter

How can one not be sad for Kawhi and the clippers? It is so disheartening- he looked great for an extended stretch last season and now one wonders if he will ever be able to play more than 5 games in a row next season. Very strange- with guys like penny and c-Webb the decline was basically in a straight line whereas with Kawhi he still looks like an all nba first team player when he is feeling right. I can’t think of any other player like that

I think it’s sad because he has a legit injury. But you have hacks like SAS calling him the worst super star ever. He makes it sound like Leonard wakes up whatever morning and doesn’t want to go into work. He’s done it since SA and it’s only gotten worse. He applauds other injury prone stars past/present but knocks Leonard. He’s become a meme for it.

I think more fans would be supportive if they just shot straight with us. But it’s always conflicting info and months later we get the truth.

Read on Twitter

Then you read this and it sounds precautionary. Fine with me.

[jengmann3]

So they knew going in what they were facing and still let him go through all the hoopla. Not a good look for all involved.

It’s like telling a kid he can go into the candy store but the plan was he wouldn’t be able to pick anything out.

Read on Twitter

Or worse as we get more quotes.

Read on Twitter

How can one not be sad for Kawhi and the clippers? It is so disheartening- he looked great for an extended stretch last season and now one wonders if he will ever be able to play more than 5 games in a row next season. Very strange- with guys like penny and c-Webb the decline was basically in a straight line whereas with Kawhi he still looks like an all nba first team player when he is feeling right. I can’t think of any other player like that

I think it’s sad because he has a legit injury. But you have hacks like SAS calling him the worst super star ever. He makes it sound like Leonard wakes up whatever morning and doesn’t want to go into work. He’s done it since SA and it’s only gotten worse. He applauds other injury prone stars past/present but knocks Leonard. He’s become a meme for it.

I think more fans would be supportive if they just shot straight with us. But it’s always conflicting info and months later we get the truth.

Read on Twitter

Then you read this and it sounds precautionary. Fine with me.

Agreed .Kinda ran through all the fan emotions today. But hopefully it's just an issue where he's not quite ready. Olympics do feature a lot of games in a short time span. I get the USA team not having the time to wait for him to ramp up. Still like 3 and a half months until the season. The only thing that I don't get is what's the diagnosis.

[KL2]

Agreed .Kinda ran through all the fan emotions today. But hopefully it's just an issue where he's not quite ready. Olympics do feature a lot of games in a short time span. I get the USA team not having the time to wait for him to ramp up. Still like 3 and a half months until the season. The only thing that I don't get is what's the diagnosis.

That’s what still frustrates me even when I know it’s no use. Olympic competition and Leonard’s injury history are nothing new. Even if hearts were in the right place it should never have gotten this far. It was a big tease and we’re still wondering why. Is he not quite there and it’s precautionary? Did it flare up after just 2 days of camp? Did he injure something else? And we won’t get a straight answer.

The diagnosis is inflammation. Apparently he deals with it but it’s tricky this time. The injection didn’t help and rest/rehab hasn’t done the trick either. Mind you this is what we were told when he was out for so long and questionable for the Dallas series. 2 months later and the only thing we have to go on is Leonard’s own words that his knee is in a neutral state and USA/Clippers thinking its best he doesn’t participate.

Read this at your own risk. Full of quotes from Grant Hill.

Read on Twitter

[Sofia]

Everything with Kawhi is always precautionary.

They never say “yeah he’s out because he’s actually busted af”, it’s always “nothing to see here, don’t forget to buy tickets for the next game!”

[Clemenza]

Agreed .Kinda ran through all the fan emotions today. But hopefully it's just an issue where he's not quite ready. Olympics do feature a lot of games in a short time span. I get the USA team not having the time to wait for him to ramp up. Still like 3 and a half months until the season. The only thing that I don't get is what's the diagnosis.

That’s what still frustrates me even when I know it’s no use. Olympic competition and Leonard’s injury history are nothing new. Even if hearts were in the right place it should never have gotten this far. It was a big tease and we’re still wondering why. Is he not quite there and it’s precautionary? Did it flare up after just 2 days of camp? Did he injure something else? And we won’t get a straight answer.

The diagnosis is inflammation. Apparently he deals with it but it’s tricky this time. The injection didn’t help and rest/rehab hasn’t done the trick either. Mind you this is what we were told when he was out for so long and questionable for the Dallas series. 2 months later and the only thing we have to go on is Leonard’s own words that his knee is in a neutral state and USA/Clippers thinking its best he doesn’t participate.

Read this at your own risk. Full of quotes from Grant Hill.

Read on Twitter

Team USA/Grant Hill did the team a solid. They worded it so Team USA is sending him home so the Clippers don't appear to be dream killers for a player wanting to suit up and play for his country. In reality Frank, Ballmer, and probably Ty Lue wanted Kawhi at home resting up for the season and nowhere near Team USA and the Olympics.

[KL2]

Team USA/Grant Hill did the team a solid. They worded it so Team USA is sending him home so the Clippers don't appear to be dream killers for a player wanting to suit up and play for his country. In reality Frank, Ballmer, and probably Ty Lue wanted Kawhi at home resting up for the season and nowhere near Team USA and the Olympics.

Ballmer and company would be well within their rights to hold him out. No one would have a case against them for doing so.

If team USA was wanting to do Kawhi and/or the Clippers a solid they wouldn’t have invited him in the first place.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[TrueLAfan]

Man, those quotes from LeBron and Curry ... they sound like they're talking about a guy with a terminal disease.

Like others, I didn't like the Olympic thing from the start. If it had been 30 years ago and the U.S. was just walking over all the opponents, Kawhi could've just showed up, played half-assed at half speed, and it would've been okay. Those days are long, long gone. He's probably never going to play 80 games in the season and playoffs. He may not play 75. That's a 60 game regular season and a deep playoff run. I just want him healthy for the playoffs tbh.

[NickP]

I'd be really surprised if Kawhi played a single game this year. Worst nightmare is Kawhi using the Olympics drop excuse to spend the year rehabilitating his knee. Ugh!!

[clipperlover]

Really don't care that he withdrew. He withdrew from 2016 when he was fully healthy. He probably liked the honor of being selected, showed up to prove to himself that he could play with the others, proved to himself that he could and then decided to step away and prepare for the regular season. There is nothing to be gained from playing with Team USA. If they win, they were expected too. If they lose, he wasn't a part of it.

The fact the reigning Finals MVP wasn't even offered the spot is an absolute joke. Kawhi may have seen the politics of the situation and decided to forgo the drama. Plus, he doesn't have to wear Nike gear.

Kawhi's long term health uncertainty is likely why Paul George bolted. He wants to be paid like Batman, but only wants to be Robin. If Kawhi is out, then PG has to perform and can't hide as 2nd fiddle.

[Clemenza]

Really don't care that he withdrew. He withdrew from 2016 when he was fully healthy. He probably liked the honor of being selected, showed up to prove to himself that he could play with the others, proved to himself that he could and then decided to step away and prepare for the regular season. There is nothing to be gained from playing with Team USA. If they win, they were expected too. If they lose, he wasn't a part of it.

The fact the reigning Finals MVP wasn't even offered the spot is an absolute joke. Kawhi may have seen the politics of the situation and decided to forgo the drama. Plus, he doesn't have to wear Nike gear.

Kawhi's long term health uncertainty is likely why Paul George bolted. He wants to be paid like Batman, but only wants to be Robin. If Kawhi is out, then PG has to perform and can't hide as 2nd fiddle.

And vise-versa. Now Kawhi can't hide behind PG like a security blanket. PG couldn't bypass an extra $61 million to stay in LA while Kawhi misses yet another post season and he has to do all the heavy lifting as always and then get crushed by the fans and media when the enviable 1st round exit happens. PG played it correctly just as the Clipps did by letting him walk.

[esqtvd]

Really don't care that he withdrew. He withdrew from 2016 when he was fully healthy. He probably liked the honor of being selected, showed up to prove to himself that he could play with the others, proved to himself that he could and then decided to step away and prepare for the regular season. There is nothing to be gained from playing with Team USA. If they win, they were expected too. If they lose, he wasn't a part of it.

The fact the reigning Finals MVP wasn't even offered the spot is an absolute joke. Kawhi may have seen the politics of the situation and decided to forgo the drama. Plus, he doesn't have to wear Nike gear.

Kawhi's long term health uncertainty is likely why Paul George bolted. He wants to be paid like Batman, but only wants to be Robin. If Kawhi is out, then PG has to perform and can't hide as 2nd fiddle.

Now PG is the 76ers' highest-paid player and is the 3rd option. Sweet.

May be a good read on Kawhi too, lol. Remember, in The Bubble, they voted to go home. Always bailing, pay me but don't play me.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/lakers-clippers-vote-to-cancel-rest-of-playoffs-every-other-team-votes-to-continue

[clipperlover]

Really don't care that he withdrew. He withdrew from 2016 when he was fully healthy. He probably liked the honor of being selected, showed up to prove to himself that he could play with the others, proved to himself that he could and then decided to step away and prepare for the regular season. There is nothing to be gained from playing with Team USA. If they win, they were expected too. If they lose, he wasn't a part of it.

The fact the reigning Finals MVP wasn't even offered the spot is an absolute joke. Kawhi may have seen the politics of the situation and decided to forgo the drama. Plus, he doesn't have to wear Nike gear.

Kawhi's long term health uncertainty is likely why Paul George bolted. He wants to be paid like Batman, but only wants to be Robin. If Kawhi is out, then PG has to perform and can't hide as 2nd fiddle.

And vise-versa. Now Kawhi can't hide behind PG like a security blanket. PG couldn't bypass an extra $61 million to stay in LA while Kawhi misses yet another post season and he has to do all the heavy lifting as always and then get crushed by the fans and media when the enviable 1st round exit happens. PG played it correctly just as the Clipps did by letting him walk.

PG couldn't pass up the extra money to hide behind Embiid and Maxey. Now, he doesn't even have to be Robin and still gets paid.

Kawhi wasn't hiding behind anyone and certainly not PG. He allowed PG to share the spotlight. In 5 season with the Clips, Kawhi NEVER made more per season than PG. But it was PG that publicly stated that he was the #2 and that he wanted the same deal as Kawhi. Kawhi missed an entire 82 game season and has still averaged more games played per year (57.25) than PG (52.6). Clips have NEVER missed the post season in a season where Kawhi played. PG was there for the Patrick Beverley scoring table game.