Kawhi Leonard returned to the LA Clippers lineup on Thursday in a victory over the Detroit Pistons. Leonard began in his first motion since October 23, which ended being a 12-game absence.
In 25 minutes, Leonard scored six factors to go together with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The Clippers star was a game-best +26 in a five-point LA victory.
Following the sport, Leonard mentioned it should take some time earlier than he is again to himself on the courtroom.
“It’s going to be a protracted journey,” Leonard mentioned. “They are saying restoration isn’t only one yr. Everyone thinks that. But it surely’s a two-year course of.”
In Leonard’s different two appearances this season, he got here off the Clippers bench. Head coach Ty Lue mentioned that they had been going to watch Leonard’s minutes, versus him having a set restriction. Lue echoed his star’s sentiments that it should take a while for Leonard to get again to himself once more.
“It’ll take Kawhi slightly time to get again to the Kawhi we all know,” Lue mentioned. “As nice a participant he’s, he has to grasp there are going to be some ups and downs.”
