Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is dealing with swelling in his right knee, the team said Tuesday.
This news is, Reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania. Leonard had knee surgery during the offseason.
Team president Lawrence Frank told reporters that the swelling has gone down “significantly,” but Leonard won't practice at training camp next week as he works his way back to full fitness.
“It's really unfortunate that he had to deal with this, but we're moving in the right direction,” Frank said. According to the Los Angeles Times. “The goal is to get him back to 100 percent and have a great season, not just this year but for years to come.”
Frank said he wasn't sure if the Clippers star would be ready by the start of this season.
“I think the timing will basically depend on how the knee responds at each stage,” he said. According to ESPN:“Nobody has a crystal ball.”
Leonard was forced to miss the final eight games of the regular season because of inflammation in his right knee, and although he returned for the playoffs, he was limited to Games 2 and 3 of the first-round series because of the issue.
The forward attended USA Basketball Association training camp in July before the organization ultimately decided to send Derrick White to the Olympics instead of Leonard.
“The knee is feeling really good,” Frank said Tuesday.[He came] Return to Dallas [in the playoffs] “It's been a bit of a struggle since then, but we've worked really hard during the offseason to get to 100 percent and I think we're getting closer and closer to that goal.”
The Clippers' season opener will be on October 23rd against the Suns at Los Angeles' new arena, the Intuit Dome.
Their first preseason game is scheduled for Oct. 5 against the Warriors in Hawaii.
