Kawhi Leonard addressed his lingering ankle injury, explaining that he prioritized his long-term health over playing limited minutes.
Kawhi Leonard opened up about his lingering ankle issue after leaving the Los Angeles Clippers game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, giving fans insight into his decision to exit late in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles Clippers / Schedule
"I only had two minutes left in the game to play anyways. Just been a lingering injury," Leonard said per Clippers writer Joey Linn. "They said if it didn't loosen up, just let them know. I told medical I'd rather play whatever minutes I played tonight than try to blow it out in the last two minutes I had left. So just went to the back, made sure everything was right, and got treatment."
The Clippers later confirmed Leonard would not return due to soreness in his left ankle, but his comments show that he prioritized long-term health over a few final minutes in a close game.
Leonard's role has expanded significantly after Los Angeles traded James Harden to the Cavaliers and Ivica Zubac to the Pacers, making him the focal point of the team.
Despite the injury, he returned for the next game against the Orlando Magic, putting up 37 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, though the Clippers narrowly lost 109–111.
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