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The Los Angeles Clippers are set to face Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns at Crypto dot com Arena Wednesday night. The Clippers have been without superstar forward Kawhi Leonard the entirety of the season as he continues to rehab from a torn right ACL. As the star gets closer and closer to his highly anticipated return, it leads to one to wonder: Is Leonard playing vs. the Suns?
Is Kawhi Leonard playing vs Suns?
So far, the Clippers have a 39-40 record through 79 games without the two-time NBA Finals MVP. The latest report from Yahoo! Sports' Chris Haynes is that Leonard is ahead in his recovery and that a return this season is a ‘strong possibility.'
The Clippers forward was recently seen shooting around prior to Clippers practice, but requested that his shooting workout not be filmed by members of the media.
Kawhi Leonard came out and literally said what’s up 😂 pic.twitter.com/WZkK9yU1Vu
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 5, 2022
Unfortunately, we were told not to record Kawhi shooting despite multiple efforts. https://t.co/iSTcwUeDoE
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 5, 2022
Kawhi Leonard made about 20 straight free throws when he first came out. Now he’s shooting some elbow jumpers, showing off some jab-step pull-ups. https://t.co/wxKXKFMQJM
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 5, 2022
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue joked and did what he usually does when asked about Leonard, claiming he, ‘didn't see him.'
. @MirjamSwanson on Kawhi Leonard shooting: “There was a guy out there shooting on the court. I don't imagine you have much to say about him?"
Ty Lue: "I didn't see him." pic.twitter.com/rvDDd5UYcm
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 5, 2022
Kawhi Leonard underwent surgery to repair the partial tear of his right anterior cruciate ligament on July 13, 2021. It has been nearly nine months since his ACL surgery, and he has been hard at work to return this season.
The Clippers star was first seen taking jump shots during practice last October 19:
Kawhi Leonard put up some jumpers today before Clippers practice. pic.twitter.com/8MLEvHQ2kZ
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 19, 2021
According to NBA on TNT, Leonard was doing explosive box jumps as of November 10th.
“Um, jump up on this table,” Lue said, putting both hands on the three-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.”
Missed this since we weren't privy to the TNT feed last night, but Kawhi Leonard has been doing “some explosive box jumping just a couple of days ago” and, as far as Marcus Morris Sr. is concerned, “he’ll be back, hopefully, in the next week or two.” pic.twitter.com/NHUBUDkPwr
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) November 10, 2021
Here's what Lue had to say about Leonard and his progression on December 26th.
“He’s doing good,” 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. With only three games left in the regular season, time is running out for Leonard to make a return. He could, however, make a return in the postseason should the team win their play-in game and qualify for the playoffs.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne also reported that Leonard's recovery is going well, but he'll have critical benchmarks to clear before determining whether or not it's worth it for him to return this season.
— Clippers Content (@clipperscontent) January 11, 2022
“Just trying to get healthy is what's next,” Leonard said on Media Day. “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.”
"Just working with the staff day-to-day. When that available date comes, we'll be ready for it, and it'll be out in the public.
"That's the challenge of it, just seeing how quickly I can get better and how much stronger I can get."
– Kawhi Leonard on his rehab, potential return pic.twitter.com/PtDgKQcwac
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) September 27, 2021
There was another recent report claiming that Kawhi Leonard's return would hinge on whether the Clippers are in the playoff hunt as well as the status of Paul George's elbow injury. Well since then, not only has George returned from his injury and looked good, but Norman Powell is expected to make his return to the Clippers lineup as well.
As the Clippers prepare to take on the Suns for the fourth and final time this season, the question is answered… for now. Is Kawhi Leonard playing tonight? No.
