Kawhi Leonard is back. After 34 games on the sidelines, the two-time champ finally returned with the Clippers, and the crowd went wild. His season debut against the Hawks? 12 points. Not bad. Then came Monday against the Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves—8 points. Solid. Meanwhile, once a skeptic, now a fan, a critic from the past is changing his stances.

The Clippers are treading carefully with Kawhi Leonard, avoiding another stint on the bench. But the forward’s hunger to play is clear, and it shows. Kendrick Perkins, who once suggested The Klaw might retire due to injuries, is now singing a different tune. On ESPN Monday, the 2008 champ softened his stance, clearly impressed by Leonard’s determination. “How does he look to you coming back from injury?” KP was asked by the host.

“Well, I mean, it’s going to take time. You got Kawhi Leonard, who has been dealing with injuries over the last five years,” Kendrick Perkins said. “And you heard coach Ty Lue talk about it in the interview. How Kawhi called them crying at times just wanting to be out there on the floor.”

Not too long ago, Ty Lue, the LA Clippers HC, appeared on the Stephen A. Smith Show to defend his superstar, who critics had slammed for his unavailability. There Lue informed, “He [Kawhi Leonard] wants to be on the floor, he wants to play every single night…I talked to Kawhi nights where he’s almost crying, just talking about how he’s let the team down.”

Thus, from those difficult times to a comeback, Leonard’s return is worth celebrating. Kendrick Perkins added: “It’s just a joy seeing him back out there. I always want to evaluate a guy coming off an injury 10 games in. Kawhi Leonard is going to be fine. We just want to make sure, they just want to make sure that they keep him available. We as fans want to see him on the floor. So the fact that he was out there was good enough for me tonight.”

Interestingly enough, KP was one of those people who had strongly advised the 12-season veteran Kawhi to retire from the NBA. The 33-year-old has been suffering from injuries for five years or more, but he’s not over yet; his comeback is proof of the same.

Kendrick Perkins put forth the idea of Kawhi Leonard’s retirement

Over the 12 years that Kawhi Leonard has been in the league, he hasn’t played a full season with any of the teams he’s been a part of. However, in the 2016-17 season, he registered a career-high 74-game season with the San Antonio Spurs. Unfortunately, injuries have been a constant companion for the forward. As a result, even the two rings he proudly owns seem to be undermined by his unavailability.

Moreover, Kawhi Leonard’s injury troubles during the Toronto Raptors’ championship-winning season brought about the whole concept of load management. In reality, The Klaw is largely blamed for hyping the concept. Thus keeping all this in mind, the league legend-turned-analyst Kendrick Perkins had suggested that Leonard should hang up his boots. “I really think Kawhi Leonard should consider retiring,” KP had commented.

Well, Perkins’ remarks did bring flak to him, but during that time, it looked like a good idea. However, Kawhi Leonard stuck around. Any other player in his place would’ve given up for sure. But he didn’t. And look, he’s finally back in the league, scoring.