LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard has been battling “very, very persistent inflammation” in his surgically repaired right knee for nearly three weeks and will be listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Clippers’ playoff opener against the Dallas Mavericks.
The fourth-seeded Clippers host Luka Doncic and the fifth-seeded Mavs on Sunday.
“Progress has been made but inflammation should continue to decrease so he can make functional basketball moves,” Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, said Thursday. “Hopefully it will get there.”
Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season and hasn’t played since March 31.
He had an injection in his knee earlier this monthAthletic reported on Thursday, citing unnamed league sources.
“We don’t comment on specific treatments,” Frank said. “He’s doing the best he can and we’re doing the best we can medically.”
Leonard has participated in film sessions and Mavs staff reviews, but he was unable to make any contact on the fieldsaid Frank.
The Clippers sent Frank to speak to reporters a day after coach Tyronn Lue apologized for his apparent frustration Wednesday with repeated questions about Leonard, who has not been made available to the media.
“I try to be as transparent as possible,” Frank said. “It’s very unpredictable. If things keep getting better and better, there’s a chance (he’ll play).”
Leonard had his healthiest regular season in four years with the Clippers, playing in 68 games. The All-Star forward averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
“This guy lives for these moments. He prepares to be at his best when he needs to be at his best,” Frank said. “If he’s not healthy enough to play at some point, he’s not going to be out there. When Kawhi is healthy, he plays.”
Frank said Leonard’s current inflammation is unrelated to his past medical problems with the same knee.
Last season, Leonard played in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Phoenix Suns before missing the final three games with a torn meniscus in his right knee.
In the 2021 playoffs, Leonard sprained his knee against Utah in the Western Conference semifinals. The Clippers beat the Jazz and advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time, losing to Phoenix in six games.
He then missed the entire 2021-22 season after recovering from a partial ACL tear in his right knee.
In January, Leonard signed a contract extension with the Clippers that will pay him $153 million over the next three years.