Almost two weeks after suffering the mouth laceration at the hands of LA Clippers teammate Serge Ibaka, Kawhi Leonard is still wearing the protective mask on his face. Head coach Tyronn Lue says he sees Leonard wearing it for the foreseeable future.
Since returning from the injury, Leonard's struggled shooting at just 36.8 percent from the field and 72.7 percent from the free throw line. On a number of occasions, both Lue and Leonard admit the forward is having a hard time adjusting and breathing through the unique mask, but is playing through it.
In Leonard's first availability since suffering the injury on Christmas Day, he joked that the team is looking to trade Serge Ibaka.
“Serge can’t talk too much. We got him on the trading block right now. Whoever wants him, let us know.”
Kawhi Leonard says Serge Ibaka is on the trade block after injuring him 🤣#Clippers pic.twitter.com/01Qf0Swddr
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) December 31, 2020
A few days later, head coach Ty Lue was jokingly informed of Leonard's comments during his media availability and quickly denied it over a laugh.
“That’s off the table. Somebody told me about it today, that’s pretty funny.”
Ty Lue says a Serge Ibaka Clippers trade is off the table, despite Kawhi Leonard’s recent comments 😂 pic.twitter.com/OdxvVVWSAx
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 2, 2021
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are off to a 5-2 start to the 2020-21 season. They've had to deal with a number of injuries, including Leonard's mouth laceration, Marcus Morris' sore knee, and lately, Paul George's ankle sprain.
For the season, Leonard has gotten off to a bit of a slow start, averaging 22 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per game on a career-low 40.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
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