If Kawhi Leonard’s season debut is a sign of what’s to come for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Western Conference has another contender.
The six-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP made his long-awaited return to the court Saturday, playing his first game since leaving the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs with a knee injury. Playing limited minutes, he scored 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting, along with three rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 131-105 win.
His first basket: a 3-pointer over the hand of No. 1 overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher.
Leonard didn’t fill up the stat sheet like he has in the past, but the more important part is the Clippers seemed ready for him, and the Hawks — playing on the second half of a back-to-back — did not.
Riding a huge second quarter, the Clippers led by double digits for the entire second half. Leonard’s final minutes came midway through the third quarter. L.A. looked like the more athletic, more disciplined team, leading the Hawks in fast-break points 46-14 and points in the paint 74-40 while forcing 22 turnovers.
Eight different Clippers scored in double digits. James Harden (10 points, 15 assists) and Ivica Zubac (18 points, 18 rebounds, four assists) were the top performers, along with leading scorer Norman Powell (20 points).
The biggest highlight came courtesy of Derrick Jones Jr.
It was a long and confusing road back for Leonard after his exit from the playoffs. He was healthy enough to train with the U.S. men’s national team ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics Paris, but withdrew from the team during camp and later underwent a knee procedure during the offseason. He initially said he planned to play in the Clippers’ season opener, then was ruled out indefinitely with right knee inflammation.
Leonard finally returned to practice in mid-December, then needed a few weeks to get up to game speed. It might still be a while before he’s playing full minutes as well. Of course, the bigger question is if Leonard — who has finished four straight seasons watching his team’s season end from the sideline — can stay healthy going forward.
His next test, should the Clippers play him, will be Monday in a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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