Kawhi Leonard's legacy is complicated.
The Clippers forward is a two-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and six-time All-NBA player, but his accolades have slowed down as injuries have taken a toll.
While Leonard will undoubtedly be in the Hall of Fame, his injuries have left some fans wondering how much more he could have done during his career.
The 33-year-old was set to make his Olympics debut for the United States but withdrew to rest and prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season. Leonard missed the last eight games of the 2023-24 regular season and played in just two of the Clippers' six playoff games. It's one of many injuries he has dealt with throughout his career.
Here's a look at Leonard's injury history across his 12 NBA seasons.
MORE: Why did Kawhi Leonard withdraw from the Olympics?
Kawhi Leonard injury history timeline
May 9, 2017: This was the beginning of Leonard's troubles.
The forward injures his ankle late in Game 5 of the Spurs vs. Rockets Western Conference Semifinals game.
Leonard sits out Game 6, which the Spurs win to close out the series. He returns for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors.
May 14, 2017: Leonard suffers a sprained ankle after landing on Zaza Pachulia's foot. The play is considered to be dirty and unsafe, and the NBA has since implemented rules to prevent this.
#OTD in 2017, Kawhi Leonard gets injured after landing on Zaza Pachulia's foot.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 14, 2021
This has to be one of the biggest "What If" moments in recent playoff history. 🤔pic.twitter.com/wZSTEmz0TG
The Warriors sweep the Spurs with Leonard out for the series.
Sept. 30, 2017: The Spurs announce that Leonard will be out indefinitely and miss the entire preseason while rehabbing from right thigh tendinopathy.
Dec. 12, 2017: Leonard makes his season debut for the Spurs after missing 27 games with his thigh injury. He plays just 16 minutes and is eased back into the lineup over the next couple of games.
Leonard takes multiple rest days during this stretch.
Jan. 13, 2018: Leonard plays his final game of the season, which turns out to be his final game in the Spurs uniform.
The Spurs medical staff clears the forward to play, but he gets a second opinion from personal doctors. It causes strife in the Spurs locker room as the team needs him to seriously compete for another title in the post-Tim Duncan era.
Jan. 17, 2018: Leonard is sidelined indefinitely, leading to a statement from Spurs general manager RC Buford.
“Kawhi has made significant progress and continues to move forward in his rehabilitation,” Buford says. “This is the best approach for the next steps in his return to play.”
July 18, 2018: The Spurs trade Leonard and Danny Green to the Raptors in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected first-round pick.
Spurs have agree to trade Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Trade call with league office is starting shortly.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2018
This is the end of the Leonard-Spurs saga, ending their seven-year partnership.
June 13, 2019: The Raptors win their first NBA championship in franchise history with Leonard. While the All-Star forward looks hobbled at times in the playoffs, he avoids major injuries and leads Toronto to the title.
He wins his second Finals MVP as the Raptors defeat the Warriors in six games.
It is rumored that Leonard won't stay in Toronto after the season.
July 6, 2019: Leonard signs with the LA Clippers during the 2019 offseason, ending a quick but successful tenure with the Raptors.
𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞. pic.twitter.com/4qYtTTmSHr
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 10, 2019
The Clippers also trade for Paul George, teaming the two All-Star forwards up.
MORE: How Raptors almost landed Kawhi Leonard and Paul George
June 14, 2021: Leonard partially tears his ACL in his right knee in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Jazz.
Leonard had been injury-free for a couple of years due to the Raptors and Clippers using load management to his favor in the regular season. That changes in the postseason when he bumps into Joe Ingles on a fastbreak, leading to the injury.
Leonard stays in the game but misses the remainder of the series and Western Conference Finals against the Suns.
Oct. 20, 2022: Leonard returns to the NBA after missing the entire 2021-22 season. He plays in 52 games in 2022-23 as the Clippers make the postseason again.
April 16, 2023: Leonard tears his right meniscus in Game 1 of the first round against the Suns. He plays through the injury in Game 2 but sits out the remainder of the series as LA is eliminated in five games.
This injury is to the same knee that he partially tore his ACL.
May 3, 2024: Leonard's season ends with a knee injury that sidelined him for the final eight games of the regular season and three of the five playoff games against the Mavericks. The Clippers keep him out with right knee inflammation.
Leonard plays in 68 games during the 2023-24 season, his most since 2016-17.
July 10, 2024: Team USA announces that Leonard is withdrawing from the team to focus on the upcoming regular season. He was expected to make his Olympics debut in Paris later in the month.
Leonard has been "battling chronic knee soreness and inflammation for months," The Athletic reports.
Derrick White takes Leonard's spot for the 2024 Olympics.
