LOS ANGELES — Fifteen months after Kawhi Leonard last played in an NBA game, the Clippers can see his return coming soon.
The NBA All-Star forward who underwent surgery in July 2021 to repair an injured anterior cruciate ligament has yet to play five-on-five basketball but has been cleared to do so during the preseason and "feels great," team president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said. He added Leonard's recovery has been "very, very encouraging" — and that the team will continue to be cautious with his workload once he is back on the court for good.
Speaking at the team's practice facility Thursday morning, Frank didn't offer specifics about what Leonard's availability will be like during training camp, which begins Tuesday in Las Vegas, saying that "we're not going to get into predictions what he will do or he won't do."
