Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard ‘regarded fairly good’ in 5-on-5 work

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard participated in a 5-on-5 exercise on Friday for the primary time since being sidelined with stiffness in his proper knee final month.

LA Clippers coach Ty Lue stated Leonard will miss his tenth consecutive recreation on Saturday when the Clippers face the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto..com Enviornment. Whereas Lue is inspired by Leonard’s development to 5-on-5 work, he added that Leonard nonetheless has “a methods to go.”

“He performed 5-on 5 with a few of our guys, a number of the gamers and a number of the coaches,” Lue stated of the 5-on-5, which was held individually earlier than the staff’s follow on Friday. “The primary time he was capable of get on the ground and play 5-on-5 and he regarded fairly good. Nonetheless have a methods to go, however that was the primary signal of positivity of him getting on the ground, taking part in 5-on-5.”

Leonard has been out since experiencing stiffness in his surgically-repaired proper knee at a morning shootaround in Oklahoma Metropolis on Oct. 25. He missed all of final season after tearing his proper ACL in Sport 4 of the second spherical in opposition to the Utah Jazz on June 14, 2021. Leonard performed in two of the primary three video games this season, logging 21 minutes off the bench in every of his first two video games.

Lue had stated on Sunday that there was no timeframe for Leonard’s return and that the ahead has to move progressive steps with the medical workers earlier than he can return.

However on Friday, Lue stated Leonard is getting nearer. The pinnacle coach additionally stated that he’s undecided if Leonard will come off the bench when he accessible once more.

“Not tomorrow,” Lue stated of when Leonard can be again. “Nevertheless it’s gonna take just a few extra [workout] alternatives to get that in. Then sort of reassess him to see how he is feeling after we go to medical and simply sort of see if we verify all of the containers.”