Kawhi Leonard is easing back into action after returning from a lengthy injury layoff, focusing on gradual progress and team success rather than rushing to his former playing time. The Clippers star is adhering to a minutes restriction, prioritizing his health and conditioning as he works to regain his peak form.
Kawhi Leonard is taking his time returning to full playing form after making his season debut recently, stating that he's not in a rush to break free of the minutes restriction he's been playing under. The superstar forward said, 'I've done that in the past and it led me on the bench, so I'm good where I'm at.' Leonard had six points on 3-for-9 shooting and five rebounds in 21 minutes of his third game, a 109-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
He didn't play in the fourth quarter of a game in which the Clippers trailed by 13 early. 'I'm just playing really well and trying to do my job to help the team win,' Leonard said. Leonard has totaled 26 points and 10 rebounds in 61 minutes over the three games. The two-time NBA Finals MVP started the season late while needing time to rehabilitate and strengthen his surgically repaired right knee that ended his previous few seasons early. 'I feel good and as long as I'm feeling good on the court, I'm able to move quickly, get to my spots,' he said. 'That's all I'm looking for.' Leonard's teammates are working to slowly incorporate him into what they built over the early part of the season. They were 19-15 before he came back. 'He's just working his way into conditioning-wise, playing-wise, flow of the game, like all of the above,' said Terrence Mann. 'He hadn't had a training camp, preseason, none of that, so for us it's just trying to make his job a lot easier.' The Clippers provided few and typically vague updates on Leonard's progress over the early part of the season, when he didn't speak to media. Mann said, 'When he gets his legs under him and rhythm, he's going to be really good.' Leonard didn't play at Denver last week after wildfires broke out in the Los Angeles area. He left the team to return to his family. Asked if his house was OK, Leonard responded, 'As we know everybody is not OK. You seen the houses burn down, so it's self-explanatory.
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