After an agonizing 253-day wait, LA Clippers fans finally got to see their superstar Kawhi Leonard back on the hardwood. The two-time Finals MVP made his long-anticipated season debut on Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 12 points in 19 minutes of action as the Clippers cruised to a 131-105 victory.
Leonard, who last played in April before being sidelined by a surgically repaired right knee, looked rusty at times but showed flashes of his All-NBA form. He knocked down his first shot attempt – a three-pointer from the left wing – and finished 4-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
The Kawhi Effect
Even on a minutes restriction, Leonard’s mere presence seemed to elevate the Clippers on both ends. The team shot a blistering 55% from the floor and 45% from three-point range, with eight players scoring in double figures.
You see with his presence on the floor, it makes it a lot easier for everybody else.
Clippers coach Ty Lue
Teammates like Norman Powell, who led the Clips with 20 points, were thrilled to have their leader back. “I’ve been talking to him, telling him I can’t wait for him to come back,” Powell said. “The attention that’s been on me and James [Harden] to start the year… with Kawhi on the floor, he draws so much attention, double-teams, I’m able to finally get some catch and shoot 3’s.”
Cautious Approach
Despite the promising return, Leonard stressed patience in his postgame comments. “We’re on nobody’s, I guess, timetable,” he said. “Anybody watching that wants me to score 20, 30 points or be aggressive, we are not on no one’s time frame.”
The Clippers have good reason to be cautious with their franchise player. Since joining the team in 2019, Leonard has played in only 257 total games while missing 210 due to various injuries, including a torn right ACL in 2021.
Eyes on the Prize
Still, if Leonard can regain his peak form, the 21-15 Clippers could emerge as a major contender in the west. With a trio of Leonard, Harden and Paul George, plus a deep supporting cast, LA has the talent to compete for a title.
The key will be health, especially for the oft-injured Leonard. “We know what’s ahead of us, and we have to keep building in the right direction,” he said. With careful management and some good fortune, Clippers fans hope that direction leads to the franchise’s first-ever championship parade.
