It took 253 days for Kawhi Leonard to make his return to play in a NBA game. The LA Clippers star forward and two-time NBA Finals MVP targeted Jan. 4 as his comeback date after needing time to rehabilitate and strengthen his surgically repaired right knee that prematurely ended each of his previous four seasons.
Signs of Leonard’s return to play had been in the air for weeks. At the end of December, he released a new video teasing his return, then followed it up with another video on the morning of his return. Leonard later explained that he is putting together a movie.
“Just getting creative,” Leonard said of his promo videos. “I’ve been talking to a few producers, directors, and just wanted to tell my story. That’s a little teaser for a movie. So, hopefully you’ll see it down the road.”
GO DEEPER
Kawhi Leonard returns to court after missing season’s first 34 games
Leonard’s story is not complete. Neither is his comeback. While he was in the starting lineup for his first game back in a blowout win Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks, he also was on a strict minute restriction, scoring 12 points in just under 20 minutes while not playing the final 20-plus minutes. Both Leonard and Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue referred to Leonard’s initial return as a “preseason” of sorts.
Monday night’s road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves made the nature of Leonard’s full return even more apparent. Lue announced before the game that Leonard would not close games for the time being as a part of his minutes restriction. The Clippers started Monday’s game similarly to how they started Saturday against the Hawks, taking a 19-point first half lead with Leonard shooting well from 3.
But a 19-point lead that the Clippers had when Leonard re-entered the game in the second quarter became a six-point deficit by time Leonard exited for the final time with 7:15 left in the third quarter. The Clippers were outscored by 17 points in Leonard’s time on the court (20:41), and Leonard did not score after the first quarter, finishing with eight points on 3-of-11 shooting while missing five of six attempts inside the arc for the second straight game. The Clippers dropped a 108-106 decision to the Timberwolves, highlighting the challenges of getting Leonard up to speed in the middle of the season.
“He feels good,” Lue said of Leonard after Monday’s game. “Just got to get his rhythm, his timing. And then defensively, just knowing our coverages and everything, locking into that. But just having him on the floor is huge for us. We’ve just got to keep getting him reps, keep getting him minutes, keep stacking them up, keep getting him games. He’ll get back to (being) Kawhi.”
Those sentiments are shared by Leonard’s teammates as well, as the league gets one of the more intriguing stars back on the floor.
“Giving him time to work his way in,” Clippers point guard James Harden said. “He looked good. So, just give him time.”
Leonard recently spoke exclusively with The Athletic about his latest return to play, the state of today’s game and more.
(Editor’s note: This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.)
It’s your second game back. Everyone saw you play for the first time Saturday night. So, they know — they’re familiar with you now. How do you assess this time coming back?
You just, you know, taking each step, like I’ve said before. I haven’t really played basketball in a while, didn’t play no preseason, no training camp. So, I’m taking my time. We played five preseason games. Now, I’m looking at this as my preseason. This is (game) No. 2, so I’m playing 20 minutes. I’m happy the knee is responding well. That’s what I’m more focused on than anything.
But, you know, it’s hard to not want to be as aggressive as I want to be on the floor. It’s going to be a time to come. Once my lungs and my legs get there, start building up, I’ll start really assessing my play and seeing what I need to do better.
Leonard, in his second game back from injury, attacking the rim against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo. (Bruce Kluckhohn / Imagn Images)
You’ve come back so many times now. What have you learned about your return-to-play protocols, and how it is different from all the other times that you’ve come back?
Last year, I think I started the season. So, it wasn’t really like a return-to-play protocol, It went well, played 68 games. Now, (I’ve) just got to match my recovery with what I do on the floor. Growing up — or just being in the league — I never really did that. I always was focused on the work. Now I’ve got to either bring down the work or bring down the recovery, in a sense. So, trying to do what I can, it’s going to be a long process. We’ll see what happens.
It’s funny, people knew you were trying to come back when you got your hair done. You had box plaits the whole training camp and the first part of the season. Then, you put the cornrows in … yeah, Kawhi is coming back.
Mmm.
What did that mean when you were like, “All right, I’m going to get my playing style hair done instead of the …”
It wasn’t really that, you know. I had some stuff to do, with productions. So, (it was) at that time of the scene for my hair to be cornrowed. That’s really why I did it. But yeah, I mean it is just easier transition in the season. I don’t like playing with my hair out. Maybe you will see it one day. But right now, it’s cornrowed up.
The fact of the matter is people have been saying they are excited to see you come back. People want to see you play the game. People are talking about the identity of the game or what they like, what they don’t like. Where do you fit into that? How do you get people to understand how the game is played right now and enjoy it instead of complaining about it all the time?
You talking about just watching NBA games overall? I mean, I think everybody is more skilled today. You know, just the style of play. I think it’s just a hot topic. Everybody is … I really don’t know, I’m not even listening. But it’s a copycat league, or people don’t have their own mindset, it feels like, in this day of age. You still see the game growing. It’s not just in America. We have a big international (fan base), you know, watching as well and following. But, they’re watching still, you know?
There’s always something to complain about. Why would a guy shoot a midrange shot if they can make a 3 at 40 percent? That’s how the game is. And the guys aren’t just about to drive and play a box offense the whole time. I think it is coming along great. I like what the young guys are doing, and they’re evolving the game.
(Top photo: Harry How / Getty Images)
