Kawhi Leonard is sidelined for a period of weeks due to swelling in his left knee, an early season gut punch for the Toronto Raptors. While an MRI reportedly showed no structural damage, ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed the team plans to use this shorter absence to get him fully ramped up after his offseason stoppages. This is a tough blow for a team trying to find its rhythm right out of the gate.
Weeks Without Their Star
This multi-week absence means he is definitely out for the upcoming showdown against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. And get this, he’ll even miss his much-anticipated return to Intuit Dome to face the Clippers on Monday. Guess those Clippers fans who wanted to boo him for his role in their salary cap mess, which ultimately cost them five first-round picks, are out of luck. Classic Clippers, right? Things rarely go their way. But back to the Raptors, this isn’t just a missed game or two. Leonard has been a pivotal presence, and losing him for weeks at the start of the season could really mess with their early momentum.
A Slow Start Before The Sidelines
Before this injury bombshell, Leonard wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire. Through two games, he was averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 boards, 3.5 steals, and 1.5 assists, but his shooting splits were rough: 32.4% from the floor and a chilly 28.6% from deep. The Raptors actually kicked off their season with two double-digit wins despite his struggles. But the moment he sat out against the Timberwolves? They got blown out 117-94. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Toronto knows it needs him playing at his best, and the hope is this extended rest will help him find that All-NBA groove once he’s back.
Toronto now has to navigate this stretch without their star, starting with hosting the Paolo Banchero-less Orlando Magic on Wednesday and Friday. Then it’s straight into a four-game road trip, kicking off Sunday against the Lakers. The whole franchise is gonna be crossing its fingers that this extended rest lets him rediscover that All-NBA groove when he finally makes his way back onto the court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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