After failing to reach 50-plus wins for the first time since the 1998-99 NBA shortened season, the San Antonio Spurs are currently preparing for the defending champion Golden State Warriors. While Stephen Curry is expected to miss the first round, the Spurs will have their hands full going against Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

For some reason, the Spurs official Twitter account decided to announce Kawhi Leonard will not play in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA playoffs against the Warriors:

The 26-year-old has only appeared in nine games during the 2017-18 season, averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 23.3 minutes. While Leonard was supposed to make his return at different points of the season, there continues to be conflicting reports about the two-time All-Star's future.

At this stage, it appears unlikely Leonard will return in the playoffs. There are simply too many steps for him and the Spurs to go through and both sides are better off with a fresh start next season. However, there are reports about teams pursuing Leonard during the offseason depending on how the situation is ultimately handled.

After years of being the standard for all sports teams, the Spurs are in unfamiliar territory with Leonard. Despite all the distractions, head coach Gregg Popovich and company have kept San Antonio focused on the task at hand as they look to shock the Warriors.