The President of the Los Angeles Clippers has announced that “No one knows” when he was asked about the injury update of Kawhi Leonard and the possible return date.
With just 8 days remaining for the NBA 2021-22 preseason to start, Clippers will hope that Leonard recovers fast.
The 30-year-old small forward of the Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard is a crucial asset for the Clippers as he is quite consistent in his performance.
Now let’s get to know about Kawhi’s injury that has resulted in a stressful break for the Clippers since last season.
Kawhi Leonard Injury Update And News
Leonard sustained an injury to his right knee during Game 4 of the Clippers’ playoffs against the Utah Jazz in the NBA 2020-21 season. After the injury, Leonard missed eight postseason matches for the LA Clippers.
The Los Angeles Clippers announced in July after the season that Kawhi Leonard had sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury also known as the ACL to his right leg. Leonard went through surgery in July 2021.
The ACL injury happens when the player experiences a sprain or a tear in the tissue that connects the bones of the thigh and the shin, near the knee. It is said that a player requires around an entire year to recover from an ACL injury.
Kawhi Return Date
It is expected that Kawhi Leonard could miss the NBA 2021-22 season.
“We don’t even know about his return, I think at this point, it’s just no one knows when you will return when you’re dealing with an ACL injury,” Manager Lawrence Frank said.
Kawhi Leonard LA Clippers Contract
Kawhi Leonard signed a 3-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers on July 10, 2019. The contract was set on 103 million USD plus an opt-out option in 2021. Leonard made his Clippers debut on October 22, 2019, against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Leonard received his first injury on December 22, 2020, on the NBA 2020-21 season opener against the Denver Nuggets. Leonard suffered from a facial injury as he received an elbow of Serge Ibaka on his face which cost him eight stitches.
Kawhi suffered from his second injury during the Western Conference semifinals when the Los Angeles Clippers faced the Utah Jazz. Leonard received an ACL injury during that match.
In 2021, Kawhi Leonard decided to opt out of his actual contract. He then decided to re-sign with the LA Clippers. So on August 12, 2021, Leonard re-signed a 4-year contract with the LA Clippers. The new contract is worth 176.3 million USD with a ‘player option’ add-on.
Kawhi Leonard Salary And Net Worth
Kawhi Leonard has had a wonderful history of salaries. Leonard is the 9th highest-paid NBA player for the 2021-22 season. His net worth currently stands at $80 million.
2021-22 Salary: $39,344,900
2022-23 Salary: $42,492,492