The LA Clippers are set to face the Phoenix Suns in The Footprint Center Thursday night. The Clippers have been without star Kawhi Leonard all season as he rehabs from a torn right ACL. Nonetheless, it leads to an inevitable question: Is Kawhi Leonard playing vs. the Suns?

Is Kawhi Leonard Playing vs. Suns

So far, Leonard's club has a 19-19 record through 38 games without him. The latest from Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue about Kawhi Leonard isn't much, but does hint at some things to be potentially excited about.

Kawhi Leonard underwent surgery to repair the partial tear of his right anterior cruciate ligament on July 13, 2021. It has been nearly six months since his operation, and he has been hard at work to return this season.

The Clippers star was first seen taking jump shots during a practice on Oct. 19:

According to NBA on TNT, Leonard was doing explosive box jumps on Nov. 10.

“Um, jump up on this table,” Lue said, putting both hand on the 3-foot high table he was sitting in front of. “Just seeing him active and being able to jump and progress in the way he is, it's just good to see. But that's about it.”

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On Dec. 26, here's what Tyronn Lue had to say about Leonard and his progression.

“He’s doing good, Tyronn Lue said with a smirk. “I haven’t seen much. Haven’t been looking. I don’t want to get too excited, you know, so I haven’t been looking.”

One thing is for sure: Kawhi Leonard wants to return this year and is working hard behind the scenes to try and make it happen. There's still a long ways to go until both his medical team and the training staff clear him, but a return in March or April can't be ruled out just yet.

“Just trying to get healthy is what's next,” Kawhi Leonard said on Media Day regarding his plans for rehab. The same stuff you usually do for a specific injury. Work on it, lift weights, make sure you don't compensate, and you're strong and stable. Just keep following that path; that's all I can do. Just take it one day at a time.

“One thing, I wanted to secure some money, and I wanted to be able to come back if I was able to this year. If I would have took the one-and-one, I probably would have not played just to be cautious and opted out and took a five-year.”

So, even though it's all fluid for the Clippers star, the question is answered for now. Is Kawhi Leonard playing tonight? No.