Perhaps no player in the league has been more associated with load management and the NBA’s new player participation policy than Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard. Still, he wasn’t concerned and claimed that the new rules would not put him on the court for more matches.
Kawhi was speaking for the 1st time since suffering his injury during his franchise 1st round postseason series vs. the Phoenix Suns in April. That problem marked the 2nd time in 3 seasons that Kawhi (32) suffered a right knee injury in the playoffs. Leonard tore his right ACL during the 2nd round of the organization’s 2021 run to the West Conference finals.
“When I was with the Raptors, it was different. I was coming off an injury. You have to know the details… If the NBA is trying to mock that, then they should stop. Other than that, if I’m able to play, I’ll play basketball.”
Kawhi Leonard fires back the load management claims.… pic.twitter.com/3LI5qLqAMg
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 2, 2023
After that problem, he missed the 2021-21 campaign. Kawhi has not played in more than 60 matches in any campaign since 2016-17.