How much will Kawhi Leonard play for the Clippers in 2023-24? For the fifth year in a row — yes, it has already been that long since he signed with the Clippers in 2019 after winning an NBA title with the Raptors — that's the question top of mind for NBA and Clippers fans, alike.
During a scorching start to the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the five-time All-Star suffered a knee injury that ended up sidelining him for three of the five games the Clippers played against the Suns in the first round.
Leonard was initially believed to have had a right knee sprain, but he was later revealed to have torn his meniscus. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Leonard aggravated his knee in Game 1 of the series and played through it in Game 2. He was considered to be day-to-day.
With Leonard's injury being more serious than it was first thought, how does that impact his availability for the start of next season? Here's the latest on his injury and when he could return.
Will Kawhi Leonard start the 2023-24 NBA season?
On June 22, news broke that Leonard had undergone a "cleanup procedure" on his right knee earlier in the month. It understandably got somewhat lost in the draft day madness which featured a generational top pick, draft day slides and scores of confusing trades. (We're looking at you, Boston).
Facing an eight-week recovery timetable, the expectation is that Leonard will be ready for training camp in October.
"Just a cleanup, went terrific," Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said. "Very quick procedure. He feels great. Eight-week recovery from time of surgery where you are back on the court playing like it was a game. We are very fortunate that it was just a quick little cleanup."
Leonard didn't play a single game in the 2021-22 season after he suffered a partial tear of his right ACL in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. He appeared in 52 of a possible 82 games in 2022-23, posting averages of 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals.
Leonard led the Clippers to a Game 1 victory over the Suns in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs with 38 points. He then scored 31 points in a Game 2 loss before sitting out the rest of the series with a torn meniscus.
Kawhi Leonard contract details
In 2021, Leonard signed a four-year, $176.3 million contract with the Clippers that includes a player option.
If Leonard declines his player option for the 2024-25 season, he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024. If he picks it up, he will be a free agent in 2025.
Leonard is eligible to sign an extension with the Clippers starting July 12, 2023.
"It's premature," Frank responded when asked about signing Leonard and Paul George to extensions.
"We do talk what the plan is, but we really can't get into those specifics until the appropriate date and we will have the dialogues like we do. We are very, very honest and [have] open conversations and see if there is something that makes sense for both sides."
| Season | Kawhi Leonard's salary |
| 2023-24 | $45,640,084 |
| 2024-25 | $48,787,676 (PO) |
| 2025-26 | UFA |
Kawhi Leonard career stats
- 19.6 points per game
- 6.4 rebounds per game
- 3.0 assists per game
- 1.7 steals per game
- 0.6 blocks per game
- 1.6 turnovers per game
- 49.5 percent field goal shooting
- 38.7 percent 3-point shooting
- 85.9 percent free throw shooting
