Clippers coach Tyronn Lue doesn’t see any chance Kawhi Leonard will miss the upcoming season because of inflammation in his right knee, but the team has “no timetable” for when the All-Star forward will play in a game.
The Clippers open the season Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns in their new arena, the Intuit Dome, and then have back-to-back games at Denver and Golden State the following weekend. Leonard will not play in any of those games as he strengthens his knee.
Because of his history of knee injuries, Lue was asked what the chances are that Leonard will miss the entire season.
Read more: Clippers ‘checking the boxes’ with Kawhi’s Leonard’s rehab, but when will he return?
“I don’t see those chances, but I’m not a doctor, either,” Lue said before the Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 113-91 in their final preseason game Thursday night. “But I don’t see those chances.”
Lue said the plan is to let Leonard get healthy and play him when the knee responds the right way.
“Like we said from Day 1, it’s going to take some time,” Lue said. “He’s going to progress. He’s doing all the right things. He’s working hard and he’s looking good. So, there’s no timetable, or nothing like that. Nothing has changed from Day 1. Still working to get him to where we’re trying to get him to. And, so, until he’s 100% and he’s able to go and we have no concerns about him doing anything different, then we just got to continue to follow the path we’ve been on.”
When asked if Leonard’s knee has to be 100% healthy before he can play in a game, Lue said, “Yes.”
The Clippers started training camp in Hawaii on Oct. 1 and have been practicing in Inglewood since returning home, but Leonard hasn’t practiced with the team.
Read more: Clippers to limit Kawhi Leonard’s training camp work because of knee
Lue was asked when Leonard will be able to do on-court practice with teammates.
“He’s feeling good,” Lue said. “He’s progressing. He’s going in the right direction, doing all the right things. So, soon he will be on the court, but not yet.”
Leonard, 35, missed the final eight games last season and played in just two games of the first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks because of his…
