Over the past few years, NBA fans have become accustomed to seeing Kawhi Leonard miss time due to injury, an unfortunate trend Paul Pierce believes has been largely brushed aside by the masses.
The 2022–23 campaign has brought more of the same for Leonard as the Clippers star has missed seven of the team’s nine games due to a lingering issue in his surgically repaired right knee. Leonard’s health has largely prevented the 31-year-old from adding to his already impressive résumé but, in Pierce’s eyes, his lack of availability and the conversations surrounding the topic speak to a larger issue.
The Basketball Hall of Famer shared his thoughts on Leonard while speaking to former Celtics teammate and fellow HOF’er Kevin Garnett on the latest edition of their Showtime Basketball podcast, “KG Certified: Ticket & The Truth.” Pierce offered a take questioning why Leonard’s legacy can be mentioned alongside LeBron James and Kevin Durant while avoiding the same criticism as oft-injured forward Anthony Davis after Garnett questioned why there has seemed to be a lack of information on Leonard’s injuries despite how often he ends up being sidelined during the season.
