The Los Angeles Clippers are eager to get the new season started.
Not only do they have a new recruit added to the team with John Wall but Paul George is also seemingly healthy again.
However, the thing that gets the Clippers most excited about 2022-23 is the return of Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard has been on the bench for more than a year after a serious injury and lengthy recovery process.
But him coming back to the team could quite literally change everything – including their fate in the playoffs.
Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard “feels great” and is cleared for 5-on-5 play, team president Lawrence Frank said today. Not many more specifics offered on Leonard’s preseason availability but Frank said Kawhi wants to do everything.
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) September 22, 2022
Leonard’s return process seems to be going very well.
Andrew Greif reports that Leonard “feels great” and is cleared for 5-on-5 play, according to team president Lawrence Frank.
The Clippers aren’t saying much more about Leonard or his preseason availability but it sounds like Leonard is definitely coming back and that means the rest of the Western Conference should be prepared.
King Kawhi Comes Back
Anybody who is even remotely familiar with the NBA knows just how great Leonard is.
He was putting up 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists before the ACL injury kept him on the sidelines for the 2021-22 season.
The man plays unlike any other.
Teams are typically terrified of his 49.3% field goal percentage and his ability to shoot 38% from the three-point line.
He moves with efficiency and speed and superior athleticism.
Now that Leonard is back, the Clippers are going to try to finally make it far in the playoffs and possibly win the Finals.
They have been promising a lot to their fans for the last four years, ever since Leonard and George both signed with the team.
This really is their chance to step up, play well, and dominate the West.
NEXT: Kawhi Leonard Looks Like He Put In The Work This Offseason