NBA rumors: Kawhi Leonard doubts the Clippers’ opener due to knee injury | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is “doubtful” to play in next Wednesday’s regular-season opener against the visiting Phoenix Suns as he continues to recover from inflammation in his right knee, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

According to Youngmisuk on ESPN, Leonard did not play in the preseason or make contact in practice because of his knee problem NBA today.

He was previously ruled out for the Clippers’ preseason finale against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

According to Youngmisuk, the team will likely “play it safe” and focus on keeping Leonard healthy for later in the 2024-25 season.

Leonard missed both the Clippers’ 2023-24 postseason finale and the 2024 Paris Olympics with the same problem.

Prior to the injury, Leonard earned the sixth All-Star nomination of his career and averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 68 regular season starts during the 2023-24 season.

He shot a career-best 52.5 percent from the field and had 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.

However, for the third straight year, Leonard was limited by injury until the playoffs.

After missing the final eight games of the regular season and the first game of the playoffs, Leonard returned to averaging 12.0 points in two postseason appearances before being sidelined due to inflammation in the surgically repaired knee he suffered in 2021 and 2023 had to take another break.

Leonard then missed the Olympics after attending three training camps with Team USA.

Team USA general manager Grant Hill told reporters that the decision to cut Leonard was “in the best interest of the Clippers and Kawhi.”

Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season after tearing his right ACL in the 2021 postseason.

His 2023 postseason was cut short when he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee, followed by a shortened 2024 postseason due to inflammation.

Leonard’s injury history is a pressing concern for the Clippers, especially given the three-year extension he signed in January that ties him to Los Angeles through the 2026-27 season.

Paul George’s offseason departure to the Philadelphia 76ers made Leonard more important than ever to the Clippers. James Harden, who signed a two-year extension over the summer, will be asked to lead the team’s offense through a difficult Western Conference as the Clippers work to get Leonard back on the field as quickly as possible.