Kawhi Leonard, the star player for the Los Angeles Clippers, will be sitting out the beginning of the season due to ongoing rehabilitation for inflammation in his right knee. According to reports, Leonard's return to the court is uncertain as he continues to deal with this knee issue. He has not participated in any preseason games and has been avoiding on-court contact during training camp.
The Clippers have not provided any official statement regarding Leonard's absence at the start of the season. Leonard himself had expressed optimism at the beginning of training camp, stating that he intended to be in the starting lineup for the opening game if his knee allowed.
Leonard, a two-time Finals MVP, has been focusing on rehabilitating his knee to ensure his availability for potential postseason games. His knee problems date back to March 31 when he first experienced inflammation in his surgically repaired knee. This injury forced him to miss the final eight games of the previous season and limited his participation to just two games in the playoffs.
The 33-year-old player had already missed the entire 2021-22 season due to a torn ACL in his right knee. Since joining the Clippers in 2019, Leonard has been sidelined for a significant number of games, missing a total of 179 out of 435 possible games.
The Clippers are set to kick off their season on October 23 against the Phoenix Suns in their new arena located in Inglewood. Leonard's absence at the start of the season raises concerns for the team's performance, but the focus remains on his recovery and potential return to the court in the future.
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