Kawhi Leonard, Tyronn Lue, Clippers
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Head coach Tyronn Lue and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers react after a timeout trailing the Atlanta Hawks during a 110-93 Hawks win at Crypto.com Arena on March 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images.
Tyronn Lue is well aware of Kawhi Leonard’s talent as one of the best players in the NBA. However, there has been a lot of criticism towards the veteran star, causing the Los Angeles Clippers head coach to come to his defense.
Load management has been a hot topic in the NBA for the last couple of seasons. This was certainly the case for Leonard, who missed multiple games with that term being the reason he was unavailable.
Lue appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s show, ‘Club Shay Shay.’ They talked about the narratives surrounding Leonard, who got heavy criticism from fans and media for allegedly choosing to sit out games and not attempt to play the entire season.
Lue set the record straight on the situation. He shut down the rumors, stating that Leonard tries to be out there consistently but gets refusals from Lue, team president Lawrence Frank and the medical staff.
“I feel sorry for him, you know? Because all the work he puts in – we see it every day. And just what it takes to get on the floor on a consistent basis – it takes a lot for him to get out there. And so it’s not like he’s wanting to sit out and miss games,” Lue said. “He puts the work in every single day. And the grind that he has to do to even get on the floor to play – it’s just tough.”
“So when he tries to push through that threshold himself, he gets himself in trouble,” Lue continued. “So a lot of times, it’s coming from us. It’s coming from Lawrence Frank, the medical staff. We’ve got to protect him from himself. Because you know sometimes he wants to play back-to-backs. . .And it’s just tough because he’s not a guy that wants to sit out. Not wanting to play. His whole mindset is to win championships – and that’s what he wants to do.”
What Lies Ahead For Kawhi Leonard, Clippers
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers
GettyKawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome on April 24, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
It was important for Tyronn Lue to clear the air about Kawhi Leonard’s health with the Clippers.
Leonard has had a long history of injuries since joining the franchise in 2019, even tearing his ACL in the 2021 playoffs. His knee issues have prevented him from being on the court as much as he would like, something that wasn’t the case during his early years with the San Antonio Spurs.
He played in 68 games during the 2023-24 season, the most since the 74 games he appeared in the 2016-17 campaign with the Spurs. However, his presence decreased to 37 games last season as injuries kept him on the sidelines halfway through the year.
Leonard averaged 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in those 37 contests. He shot 49.8% from the field, including 41.1% from beyond the arc, and 81% from the free-throw line.
Leonard was finally healthy for the 2025 playoffs, showing most of his star form. He produced 25 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He helped the Clippers be a fierce matchup, losing in seven games to the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
Los Angeles continues to have strong potential as a contender when Leonard is healthy and on the court. However, it remains important for them to manage his health so they can achieve the best-case scenario next season and beyond.