All-Star Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard is expected to play his first game of the year with L.A. on Saturday against the Hawks, sources inform NBA insider Chris Haynes (X video link). ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Leonard intends to play.
For their part, the Clippers officially upgraded Leonard’s status for the clash against Atlanta to questionable.
Last week, it was initially reported that the former two-time Finals MVP and the Clippers were targeting this Jan. 4 tilt for Leonard’s return to action. It appears that remains very much the plan, and his ramp-up from an offseason procedure to address right knee inflammation is still on track.
Leonard took part in a 5-on-5 team scrimmage with L.A. last week and has practiced with the club’s NBAGL affiliate, the San Diego Clippers, during L.A.’s recently-concluded three-game road trip.
L.A. went 1-2 on that road trip. But the Clippers have had a surprisingly robust start to their 2024/25 season sans Leonard, thanks in large part to the prolific scoring of guards James Harden and Norman Powell. The club is currently 19-15 on the season. That record is good for the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed, a solid finish without the team’s most expensive player.
