Another year, another Kawhi Leonard knee injury. That’s what it feels like at this point. And it’s so sad because Leonard is so good and he works so hard to play.
But now, he’s reportedly got a torn meniscus in the same knee that he tore his ACL in, according to reports from The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Leonard had missed the final 3 games of the Clippers’ series against the Suns after absolutely torching Phoenix through the first two. With the series shifting to Phoenix, it felt like LA had a legitimate shot to win if Kawhi just played. Instead, a knee injury came out of nowhere and ruined it all.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Leonard averaged 35 points in first two games of this postseason vs. Suns before the meniscus injury was revealed and he was shut down by medical staff.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 26, 2023
Now, of course, the predictable backlash is raining in. And Stephen A. Smith might have the loudest reaction on all of it.
He’s been letting Leonard have it. He called the Clippers’ forward the “worst superstar” in the NBA because of his injury history. And, on Wednesday, he also suggested that the Clippers should find a way to force Leonard to actually retire.
To be clear, that’s completely ridiculous. Forcing a player to retire isn’t a thing. And, even if the Clippers could do it, it’d be silly to actually do that from both a practical and ethical standpoint.
Is it fair to question what Leonard can potentially be for you moving forward after yet another serious knee injury? Sure. But losing a player for absolutely nothing — especially a star player — is not how good organizations do business in the NBA. That’s what forcing someone to retire is.
Plus, on top of that, making a player go away definitely feels like a union violation that I’m sure the NBA Player’s Association would have fun with.
Anyway, JJ Redick pushed back heavily against this and used his own playing experience to do it.
.@jj_redick responds to @stephenasmith saying Kawhi Leonard needs to be forced into retirement: pic.twitter.com/OrkcQRMclc
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 26, 2023
“I understand the frustration with the load management issue. What we’re talking about here in questioning his injury…let’s give the guy some credit. He did it in game 1. He went out and battled in game 2. If he could play, he would play. I want to get some clarification on this “worst superstar.” Do you not have any empathy for someone who has come back from two major leg injuries? Do you not?”
That’s last question is the exact one we should be asking Smith, Chris Russo and anyone else who is questioning Leonard’s injury and its legitimacy.
Being frustrated is understandable. This keeps happening again and again and we’re all losing out on watching some incredible basketball because of it. But it’s probably safe to say that nobody is more frustrated than this than Kawhi Leonard — injuries are not fun.
The best thing we can all do here is wish him luck in getting back on the court as soon as possible. That’s all there is to it.
Fans were with JJ on this one.
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Thank you @jj_redick https://t.co/cZWx8gKLtr
— Mike Tourtellott (@MikeTourtellott) April 26, 2023
Exactly what I was saying. Get off Kawhi’s back smh https://t.co/w7Bp5IL6yM
— NBA J🏀 (@JanNJuice_) April 26, 2023
Cooked well done https://t.co/yNgxkvY4Fz
— Lundon Stephon (@LundonStephon) April 26, 2023
Well done by JJ here. More insight and nuance into rehab on a national show than we’ve gotten in the past 10 years combined. https://t.co/tWHeLad5SX
— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) April 26, 2023
Very refreshing to hear from a former player what these injuries are like, and what Kawhi has gone thru to come back. https://t.co/0Wo2Jtj01Y
— GOOD JOB TRE🍊⚜️ (@Tre_Potts) April 26, 2023
I knew I loved JJ https://t.co/DtYZcUiX76
— Ryan Snellings (RS25) (@rsnellings25) April 26, 2023
Preach. https://t.co/AUkm9u1ZFI
— Jon Schaeffer (@jonschaeffer) April 26, 2023
I know they don't let Tim Legler out during the day but I'd love to see him and JJ Redick talk to each other more https://t.co/5hJJB8GzUG
— Kofie (@Kofie) April 26, 2023
Get well soon, Kawhi.
