Kawhi Leonard is not going to take any risks with his health in 2024-25.
The Los Angeles Clippers forward spoke about his approach to the upcoming season and said that he is being “very cautious” and aims to be available for the postseason.
“Taking it day by day,” Leonard said, per Law Murray of The Athletic. “Everything has been going great for the past month.
But being very cautious for reasons in the past. I haven’t been able to finish some playoff runs.
So making sure I stay healthy for those important moments.”
He has not played in at least 70 games in a season since the 2016-17 season.
That came when he was with the San Antonio Spurs and was before his NBA championship run with the Toronto Raptors.
He played 68 games in 2023-24, averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
He earned an All-Star nod for this production but only appeared in two playoff games.
He has only played in four total postseason games in the past two seasons, and the Clippers need him to be able to make a potential NBA Finals push.
With this goal in mind, Leonard’s approach is focused on longevity.
He notably did not play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, so that decision appears to be rooted in the same cautious approach.
He will hope to help Los Angeles improve on a 51-31 2023-24 season in which the team fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
