Kawhi off bench for Clippers in opener vs. Lakers

LOS ANGELES -- Kawhi Leonard's instrumentality volition commencement with him coming disconnected the seat for the LA Clippers successful their opener Thursday nighttime against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Clippers manager Ty Lue said the determination to bring Leonard disconnected the seat portion connected a minutes regularisation was a collaborative determination betwixt the prima and the team's aesculapian unit -- 1 that was chiefly based connected however Leonard is feeling.

Lue besides said the determination was astir however the Clippers privation to dispersed retired Leonard's constricted minutes to commencement the season.

"Just privation to person him for the extremity of the game, if we request him," Lue said earlier the game. "Just for him, helium wanted to bash immoderate is champion for the team. And I conscionable thought immoderate is champion for him, immoderate makes him consciousness better. Being retired for 15 months, what was the champion happening for him arsenic acold arsenic wellness omniscient and however helium would feel."

Asked if this was Leonard's idea, Lue said, "how helium feels, yes."

Lue besides revealed that Reggie Jackson volition commencement astatine constituent defender portion John Wall, who sat retired each of past play portion with the Houston Rockets, volition tally with the 2nd unit.

Leonard hasn't played successful a meaningful crippled since tearing his close ACL successful Game 4 of the 2nd circular against the Utah Jazz backmost connected June 14, 2021. He played constricted minutes successful 2 of the 4 Clippers' preseason games. Lue said this determination was not based connected immoderate setbacks to Leonard's return.

"Good," Leonard said connected Wednesday erstwhile asked however helium physically came retired of the preseason. "I inactive consciousness good. Moving successful the close direction. Really haven't been nary flare ups oregon setbacks, truthful I consciousness good."

This is Leonard's archetypal crippled coming disconnected the seat since his 3rd play with the San Antonio Spurs successful 2013-14 erstwhile helium played arsenic a reserve connected Nov. 10 astatine the New York Knicks.

Leonard said that helium does not play immoderate five-on-five hoops during the offseason and that helium typically doesn't bash truthful until grooming camp. Coming disconnected his ACL injury, Leonard said helium beauteous overmuch spent 12-13 months successful the gym moving retired and adding much muscle.

Lue said the Clippers scrimmaged "about 2 oregon three" times with Leonard coming disconnected the seat implicit the past week.

"We had a accidental to bring him disconnected the bench, commencement him, spot however helium looks and feels," Lue said. "This is what helium felt comfy with and evidently what we are going to spell with."

Lue said this could beryllium a precise short-lived idea. It volition each beryllium based connected however Leonard feels moving forward.

"He hasn't played successful 15-16 months," Lue said. "We can't expect him to beryllium large each night. He has to recognize that arsenic well. It's going to beryllium a process. There are going to beryllium immoderate times wherever helium looks similar Kawhi Leonard, determination are going to beryllium immoderate times wherever helium is conscionable trying to get a consciousness and not playing well.

"He has to recognize that, arsenic large arsenic helium is, that it is not going to conscionable travel overnight. So we got to beryllium diligent with him successful that respect and helium has to beryllium diligent with himself arsenic well."