“Is a Kawhi Leonard Comeback Imminent? Clippers Drop Hints as Rehab Process Hits Key Milestones!”

As the buzz of the NBA preseason heats up, the Los Angeles Clippers find themselves stepping onto the hardwood of their brand-new Intuit Dome, brimming with promise yet tinged with concern. While the spotlight shines brightly, one shadow looms larger than usual—Kawhi Leonard’s ongoing knee issues. The talented forward has once again been sidelined, leaving fans and players alike on the edge of their seats as they await updates on his status ahead of the season opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 23. As the team gears up for their upcoming match against the Sacramento Kings, questions swirl around not only Leonard’s recovery but also how the squad will navigate these choppy waters without their star player. With head coach Tyronn Lue conveying cautious optimism and other standout players like James Harden stepping up, there’s a palpable mixture of excitement and anxiety as the Clippers aim to carve out a successful start to the season. The story unfolds as the team navigates this crucial period—will they rally together, or will the absence of their superstar prove too daunting? LEARN MORE.

“He won’t play Thursday,” coach Tyronn Lue said.

That’s because Leonard still is dealing with inflammation in his right knee.

“Getting starters’ minutes,” Lue said. “Be able to score the basketball. When you don’t, just taking the defensive challenge every night. So, being able to guard his position, being able to match up with guys. We talked about two years ago, we saw in the playoffs in Phoenix, like, taking the challenge defensively. He’s gotten a lot better.In the meantime, James Harden played in his fourth preseason game for the Clippers. But Harden, the Clippers’ other star alongside Leonard, will not play in the final preseason game, Lue said.Though he was one of the top sixth men in the NBA last season, Powell is seeking a bigger role with the Clippers.“Continue to keep rehabbing, keep getting better and keep checking the boxes,” he said.Lue described what he wants out of Powell, who had 13 points on four-for-eight shooting against the Mavericks.For Norman Powell, the challenge for him is to secure a spot in the starting lineup.Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.“So, just being able to guard guys every night, being able to switch, sometimes guard point guards when we need him too. He’s been phenomenal so far in this training camp.”With the Clippers playing their regular-season opener at home on Oct. 23 against the Phoenix Suns, Lue was asked what the plan is for Leonard going forward.

That was his goal at the start of Clippers training camp and that hasn’t changed.[embedded content]Read more: Clippers ‘not sure’ if Kawhi Leonard will be healthy by start of seasonThe Clippers played their first game at the Intuit Dome, their new home in Inglewood, in a preseason contest Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks, and they did so without Kawhi Leonard — again.Harden had a double-double against the Mavericks with 10 points and 12 assists. But he was just three for 12 from the field in 23 minutes during the Clippers’ 110-96 victory over Dallas.This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.Leonard missed the Clippers’ final eight regular-season games from the 2023-24 campaign because of his knee. He played in just two of the Clippers’ six first-round playoff games against the Mavericks.The Clippers have one preseason game left to play, against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night that will be in owner Steve Ballmer’s new -billion palace, but will Leonard be on the court?Read more: With six new players, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue is teaching again“He’s doing all the right things,” Lue said. “He’s been a great leader, on and off the floor, and he’s been in this situation a lot of times in Houston. So, he’s up for the challenge.”