More Brutal Injury News For Kawhi Leonard

In the 2021 playoffs, Kawhi Leonard suffered what the Los Angeles Clippers first said was a knee sprain. It turned out to be a partially torn ACL. In this year's playoffs, Leonard once again was forced out of the lineup with what was said to be a knee sprain. Now it's been revealed to be a torn meniscus. Surgery is a distinct possibility.

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Leonard averaged 35 points in first two games of this postseason vs. Suns before the meniscus injury was revealed and he was shut down by medical staff.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 26, 2023

He was shut down for good after just two games in the Clippers' first-round series against the Phoenix Suns, after averaging 34.5 points in those contests, and having the team on equal ground at one game apiece. Tuesday night, the Suns finished off the Kawhi and Paul George-less Clippers, winning the series in five games. 

Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season after that torn ACL, and now he has to deal with yet another in a seemingly endless stream of leg and knee injuries. 

The best case scenario, as noted by Shams Charania in The Athletic, is that Leonard will be ready to resume basketball activities in one to two months, and could be ready for training camp in the fall. But we've been here before with Kawhi and his lower-body injuries. Bottom line—the Clippers shouldn't count on anything when it comes to Leonard's readiness to play. 

In fact, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith went one step further this morning: 

"Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers should force Kawhi Leonard to retire."

—@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/s9fAlG0BFi

— First Take (@FirstTake) April 26, 2023

"I've heard very, very alarming stories about his health... He is not a healthy individual," said Smith. But he added, "he is absolutely the worst superstar you could possibly have on your team. He's barely ever there, and on top of it all he does absolutely, positively nothing to market or promote your franchise.

"Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers should force Kawhi Leonard to retire. I'm done. He needs to go home." 

Photoi: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports