Imagine the thunderous atmosphere inside the Intuit Dome when Kawhi Leonard would return for his first home. After a lengthy time off due to injury, the Klaw is finally near full fitness. With his return game speculated as the home game against Atlanta, the anticipation is steadily rising rivaling the steep heights of the Walls inside the $2 billion arena. But if it was all well and merry, it wouldn’t feel like the Clippers.

The LA side is already on a high with their 18-13, much to the surprise of many experts. Now, with Leonard set to join the mix, things can only get better, and that’s where the concern begins.

“It’s just like when you hear Khris Middleton’s coming back. We don’t know which version we’re gonna get. But it’s comforting,” Chandler Parsons said on the latest episode of Run It Back.

Highlighting Kawhi Leonard’s pedigree, Parsons felt the Clippers could take the positives from it but pointed out how it can harm Norman Powell. “I don’t want it to stunt Norman Powell’s season. He’s kinda come into his own here. Dude’s averaging 24-3-3. Like, he is balling. So I do think there’s gotta be a dynamic there where he doesn’t change up his game just because Kawhi Leonard is on the court.”

In Leonard’s absence, Powell has stepped up for the franchise, with his performance graph steadily rising. So far this season, the 31-year-old swingman has averaged 24.2 points per night for the Clippers, along with 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Now that the small forward will step in, things might not be the same for Powell, which is something the former Mavericks star doesn’t want. Despite the minor concerns, veteran James Harden is certain that Leonard’s return is nothing but a big boost for the franchise.

James Harden allays concerns over Kawhi Leonard’s return

Apart from Powell, James Harden has been the brightest light on the Clippers side. ‘The Beard’ is putting up All-Star-caliber numbers so far this season and is looking more like the Harden that dominated the league over the years. After a slow start last year in the Lob City, Harden being the focal point of Ty Lue’s system, has paid dividends. But it’s time to share the spotlight with Leonard.

That, however, didn’t bother Harden. “He feels like he don’t wanna just come over here and just mess up the flow and the chemistry that we have been, you know, been building up,” Harden said after the Clippers’ Sunday night win over the Warriors. “I don’t think it’s gonna be a problem,” the 15-year veteran added allaying the chemistry concerns over Kawhi Leonard’s impending return.

Leonard recently dropped a cryptic video on X, marking his social media return. The former NBA champion vowed to have better days once he’s on the court, and the Clippers fans would certainly hope for that. But the question remains — which version of the star will we see? Hopefully, the best version that we love to see.