Kawhi Leonard URGED to call quits on career as injury rules out superstar before new season kicks off
Following Kawhi Leonard's latest injury setback, former NBA player Kendrick Perkins jas urged the LA Clippers star to consider retirement.
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Kawhi Leonard faces another setback after latest injury reports
Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard faces yet another major setback after it was announced that the All-NBA forward is being sidelined indefinitely ahead of the 2024-25 NBA regular season. The news comes after Leonard missed the Clippers’ entire preseason and training camp, rehabilitating inflammation in his right knee.
With the future of the 2x Finals MVP uncertain, fans and analysts across the league are calling for ‘The Klaw’ to hang up his boots Former NBA player turned analyst Kendrick Perkins appeared on ESPN and stated that Kawhi Leonard should consider retirement.
Given the slew of injuries that have plagued Leonard over the course of his career, Big Perk believes that it might be in the best interest of Leonard and the Clippers for the 33-year-old to step away from the game.
This is not a hot take but when you think about his history… he needs to sit down at the round table, not only with the Clippers organization but his family as well. I really think Kawhi Leonard should consider retiring.
Kendrick Perkins said
Perk: "I really think Kawhi Leonard should consider retiring" pic.twitter.com/gdR4wHYSc0
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) October 17, 2024
Perkins cautioned Leonard about the recurring injuries that have forced the 6x All-Star to be sidelined for most of the last few years. Given the major injuries that Kawhi has suffered to his right knee over the years, Perkins expressed his concerns about the long-term effects of these injuries on his body.
Kawhi Leonard’s injury history
Kawhi Leonard has racked up several accolades during his career, including two Larry O’Brien trophies. But the recurring injuries to his right leg have sidelined the superstar from the spotlight throughout the last few seasons.
Having backed away from the Team USA camp at the last minute over the summer, Leonard has spent a major chunk of the previous year rehabilitating the meniscus he tore in 2023. The Los Angeles native will enter his fifth season with the Clippers in the 2023-24 season.
Over the course of the last four seasons, Leonard has missed 164 games, including the playoffs and play-in games, due to a string of injuries and load management. The Clippers forward’s injury concerns started with a case of right quad tendinopathy that eventually led the 2x DPOY to leave the San Antonio Spurs.
His string of injuries would continue, with the forward tearing his right knee ACL in the 2020-21 season. After rehabbing his knee, he would go on to face several issues with load management for his knee. In the 2023 NBA playoffs, Leonard would face another setback, tearing his right knee meniscus.
The rehabilitation of his right knee has since kept The Klaw in and out of games due to inflammation flaring up in his knee. As the Clippers kick off their season against the Phoenix Suns in their brand-new arena, the Intuit Dome, it seems like fans will have to wait for quite a while to see their franchise superstar hit the hardwood.
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Anubhav Bajpeyee
(209 Articles Published)