Report: LA Clippers Star Ahead of Schedule in Rehab

A big announcement came from Yahoo’s Chris Haynes when he reported that Clippers All-Star Forward Kawhi Leonard is ahead of schedule in his rehab for a partial ACL tear in his right knee that he suffered during the Clippers 2021 playoff campaign.

Kawhi suffered the tear, that was originally believed to be a knee sprain, during game 4 of the Clippers Westen Conference Semi-Final matchup with the Utah Jazz. While the Clippers were able to get past the Jazz without their superstar, they ultimately fell to the Western Conference Champion Phoenix Suns.

While originally expected to be out for the entire season, Haynes announced that Leonard has seriously ramped up his training in the past few weeks and that it is possible Leonard makes a return to the court this season.

🚨 Kawhi Leonard could return this season as his ACL rehab is ahead of schedule, sources tell @ChrisBHaynes.

Full story ➡️ https://t.co/TIarYD9xmA pic.twitter.com/6mAtmKuXaH
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 7, 2022

This news must feel like a late Christmas gift for a squad that is also missing their other All-Star as Paul George recovers from an elbow injury. While nothing is guaranteed, the value of adding a multi-time Finals MVP to your roster late in the season cannot be overstated.

In the meantime, the Clippers will do their best to keep their heads above water in the West as, at 19-20, they sit in eighth place, just a half a game ahead of the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves. Clippers Forward Marcus Morris Sr. was asked about a potential Kawhi return and he had this to say, “When he’s ready, he’ll play … we’ll hold it down till he gets here.”

Morris will have a chance to put his plan in action when the Clippers take on the surging Memphis Grizzlies at the home in a Saturday afternoon tilt. Check out below for some career highlights from the Klaw below as we wait with bated breath for his return to play.