Kawhi Leonard’s return date becomes clear after the latest news

Although the LA Clippers performed better than expected early in the season, they would likely be a top three seed at full health. Numerous injuries have affected the active roster, but the most significant is franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard, who has been dealing with knee issues due to the 2024 playoffs.

Leonard brings a strong, two-way presence that the Clippers could use alongside stars James Harden and Norman Powell. These three would accelerate each other, leaving opposing teams hopeless on both ends of the pitch.

Luckily for the Clippers, Leonard has made great strides toward a return. This is excellent news for head coach Tyronn Lue as he now has one of the league’s best talents to direct his offense.

Conversely, load management could become an option for Leonard and the Clippers for the time being. This is probably the best course of action to prepare for a strong run in the 2025 postseason. If the coaching staff does not take appropriate precautions, the superstar will remain at risk of injury, especially in the early second leg.

Kawhi Leonard is expected to return against the Golden State Warriors.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Joey Linn, Kawhi Leonard has been practicing in five-on-five, full-contact practice and will be with the LA Clippers. Although he won’t play, this is an important step in the return process. Additionally, Leonard could make a difference on the sideline, setting up plays and guiding the rising stars.

Last season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists on extremely efficient three-level splits. After playing two duels against Dallas in the postseason, he was sidelined due to knee inflammation. This played a crucial factor in the Clippers’ first-round exit.

Furthermore, Leonard’s return to practice shows that his trend is moving in the right direction. Given his current position, Law Murray of The Athletic suggests that the six-time All-Star will make his debut at the Intuit Dome immediately after the Clippers return from their road trip. This gives the coaching staff enough time to develop a successful plan and climb into the top six of the Western Conference.

However, if Leonard returns, the coaching staff will need to slowly increase his minutes. It would be best if he could also check in from the bench at the start of the new year as he has missed a lot of time. These decisions reflect the Clippers’ plans for the future and what is best for the two-time champion at the end of his career.