Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers will miss the remainder of the preseason

Due to a right knee injury that may affect his availability for the start of the regular season, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will miss the whole preseason.

Leonard’s initial prognosis is as follows: “Continue to keep rehabbing,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Monday in reference to Los Angeles’ regular-season opening against the visiting Phoenix Suns on October 23. Continue to improve. Continue to check the boxes.

Due to problems with his right knee, Leonard only participated in Games 2 and 3 of the Clippers’ six-game Western Conference playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks this past spring.

A two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Finals MVP (with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and the Toronto Raptors in 2019), Leonard has struggled with his health.

He missed the last three games of the Clippers’ five-game, first-round playoff loss to the Suns in 2023. After suffering a right knee injury and having surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament, Leonard missed Los Angeles’ final eight postseason games in 2021 and the whole 2021–22 campaign.

Leonard, 33, participated in 68 games (all starts) during the previous season and 52 regular-season games (50 starts) in 2022–2023.

In 2023–24, he finished with averages of 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals, earning him his sixth All-Star selection.

Leonard averages 20.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game over his career.

From 2011–12 to 2017–18, he played with the Spurs. He then spent only the 2018–19 season with the Raptors before joining the Clippers.