The Clippers will likely be without their best player for a good portion of the 2021-22 season.
Los Angeles announced Tuesday that Kawhi Leonard underwent surgery to repair a partial tear of the ACL in his right knee. The team added that there is currently no timetable for his return to basketball activities.
MORE: Could Mavericks steal Leonard away from Clippers?
Leonard suffered the injury during Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. The two-time NBA Finals MVP came up limping after a drive toward the basket against Jazz forward Joe Ingles. He ended up sitting the last four-plus minutes of that contest, but in his postgame interview with TNT's Rebecca Haarlow, he said, "I'll be good."
With 5:25 remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the Jazz, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard tweaked his right knee.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 15, 2021
After the game, Leonard told TNT, “I’ll be good.”
Read more on the @kslsports app!#TakeNote #UTAatLAC #NBA
🎥: TNT pic.twitter.com/DJGcSQitCs
Unfortunately for Leonard, the knee issue was more serious than he thought and ended what had been a spectacular playoff run. In 11 postseason games, Leonard averaged 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 57.3 percent from the field and 39.3 percent on 3-pointers.
While it is impossible to know exactly how much time Leonard will miss, injury expert Jeff Stotts believes his recovery will extend into next year. The 2021-22 campaign is expected to begin Oct. 19, so it wouldn't be shocking to see Leonard stuck on the bench for the first few months of the season.
Re: Kawhi: Thomas Bryant & Spencer Dinwiddie each missed 60+ games after undergoing surgery for Grade 2 (partial tear) ACL injuries earlier this season. Dinwiddie was cleared for basketball activities ~6 months after surgery. Look for Kawhi’s recovery to carryover into next year.
— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) July 14, 2021
Leonard can become an unrestricted free agent this summer by declining his player option. With his history of injuries, he may pursue a long-term deal for more financial security.
