Kawhi Leonard Injury Update: After Scary Moment vs Blazers, Clippers Star Gives Massive Sigh of Relief

The Clippers faced the Blazers last night and took home the win. But not before nearly causing every LA fan to suck in their breath. Kawhi Leonard had been subbed out after the third quarter due to a wrist injury. Towards the closing minutes of the third saw Scoot Henderson lock elbows with Kawhi. It managed to cause a slight tweak in his left wrist, showcasing signs of discomfort.

Nonetheless, the forward stood his ground and downed both his free throws before returning to the bench. Leonard didn’t immediately have the injury checked, leading many to hope it was nothing more than a scare. And with recent updates, it seems that’s the case as Kawhi Leonard is revealed to be still on for tomorrow’s rematch with Portland; making it a complete Big 3 showcase. Further along, Russell Westbrook still remains sidelined while Norman Powell and Terence Mann are on the injury report, offering ‘The Klaw’ an edge.

Kawhi Leonard leads the team in points this season, averaging 23.8 per game. Taking a look at his stats from the start of December, the veteran forward is averaging, 24.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 43.6% from downtown and 54.7% from the field.

Leonard has stayed largely healthy and the Clippers have been better for that. They are 40-22 when he is on the floor and 3-3 without him. But that’s not a surprise since the team has four All-Star players who can easily take over in the absence of others. How long the Big 4 will stay together though, is still in the winds.

The Clippers and Paul George

When LA signed Kawhi Leonard, PG’s arrival was almost like a chain reaction. Having formed a close-knit connection, it was intrinsic of the two to sign with the same franchise. Unfortunately, injuries have been a stumbling block for the team to unlock their complete potential. Since their arrival in Los Angeles in 2019, George or Leonard haven’t played more than 60 games until the 2023-24 season.

Read More: “Really Didn’t Give All”: Kawhi Leonard Takes Ownership Of Abysmal Hawks Loss

With Westbrook and James Harden also joining the team, the LA Clippers have put themselves as a major contender. But right now, PG13 and LA are in a standoff with regard to agreeing on a deal. He enters free agency this summer and there are only too many teams who would be willing to make him agreeable offers. The Philadelphia 76ers have come up as the top team to pursue the forward.

The Sixers have the cap space to offer the max contract and George’s addition will only put them further on the contending list. But the 9x All-Star has yet to make any major moves. Other than his recent frustration after the blowout loss to the Hawks, there hasn’t been anything in particular that hints at him being unhappy with the Clippers. For now though, PG continues his dominant performance in a Clippers jersey.