Kawhi Leonard is finally ready to hit the court again. The Clippers superstar is expected to make his long-awaited season debut Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks at the new Intuit Dome, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.
It’s been a long road back for Leonard, who hasn’t played since April 26 of last year.
The Clippers raised hopes Friday night when they upgraded his status to questionable. They’ll make the final call Saturday morning, but all signs point to the two-time NBA champ suiting up.
Leonard’s been dealing with a frustrating issue in his right knee – inflammation that first popped up after a game in Charlotte last March. It’s the same knee where he had surgery before, making the recovery extra tricky.
The setback forced him to miss the final stretch of last season, including most of the Clippers’ playoff series against Dallas. He tried to come back for Games 2 and 3, putting up 15 points in his first game back, but the knee just wasn’t ready.
“The inflammation was still there,” Leonard admitted at the time. He hasn’t stepped on the court for a game since.
Even the Olympics weren’t in the cards. Though he showed up for Team USA’s training camp in July, he eventually had to give up his spot to Boston’s Derrick White.
The Clippers have been super careful with their star this time around. No training camp, no preseason – just focused recovery work to make sure the knee heals right.
It’s been a familiar story for Leonard and injuries. He missed all of 2021-22 with a torn ACL in that same right knee, and he’s played limited games since then – 52 games two years ago and 68 last season.
But when he’s healthy, he’s still one of the NBA’s best. Last season, Leonard put up impressive numbers:
* 23.7 points per game
* 6.1 rebounds
* 3.6 assists
* Career-best 52.5% shooting from the field
The Clippers are clearly betting on his health improving. They signed him to a massive three-year, $153 million extension last January. He’s making $49.2 million this season, with $50 million coming his way each of the next two years.
Now the big question is: Can the two-time Finals MVP stay healthy enough to help lead the Clippers on a deep playoff run?
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.basketballhour.com/news/kawhi-leonard-returns-for-clippers-vs-hawks-in-season-debut/&media=https://www.basketballhour.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Clippers-Kawhi-Leonard-To-Make-Season-Debut-Against-Hawks.jpg&description=You are a writer. Summarize the following text in one short sentence for an SEO description: """ Los Angeles Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard plans to make his season debut Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks at Intuit Dome, sources informed NBA insider Chris Haynes. Los Angeles Clippers upgraded Kawhi Leonard to questionable The Clippers upgraded Leonard to questionable Friday night, indicating he was set to return to action for the first time since April 26. The team will reassess two-time NBA champ Saturday morning. Leonard has been sidelined all season because of inflammation in his right knee. Last season, he began to experience inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee following a win at Charlotte on March 31. Sources: Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard (knee) is expected to make his season debut on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks. #haynesbriefs pic.twitter.com/OXuwUYlrA5 — Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 4, 2025 The two-time Finals MVP sat out the final eight regular-season games and Game 1 of the Clippers’ first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. He scored 15 points on 7-of-17 (41.2%) shooting from the field in his return. Leonard appeared in Games 2 and 3, but he was then shut down for the rest of the series, admitting that the inflammation was still troublesome. He hasn’t played in a game since. Leonard signed a three-year, $153 million contract extension last January The six-time All-Star also missed the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was able to participate in USA Basketball’s training camp in July before USA Basketball opted to replace him with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White. Leonard did not practice with the Clippers throughout training camp and the preseason. Athletic trainers advised him to take it easy to help reduce inflammation in his knee and ensure that it wouldn’t return. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year sat out the entire 2021-22 season due to a torn ACL in his right knee. Leonard also played in 52 regular-season games in 2022-23 and made 68 regular-season appearances in 2023-24. In those 68 games (all starts) last season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 34.3 minutes per contest while shooting career bests of 52.5% from the field and 88.5% at the foul line. In January 2024, Leonard and the Clippers agreed to a three-year, $153 million contract extension. His current deal carries no player option. He is making $49.2 million this season and is slated to earn $50 million per season over the next two years. NBA"""){kind=link}