Kawhi Leonard

2022 - 10 - 21

Post cover — Image courtesy of "NBC Sports"

Clippers reportedly considering bringing Kawhi Leonard off the bench (NBC Sports)

In their quest to keep the minutes down for Kawhi Leonard this season, the Clippers are reportedly considering bringing him off the bench.

Rookie [Jalen Duren](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/66332/jalen-duren) might be a steal, he had 14 off the bench. But the Pelicans challenged the Nets and ran right over them — the toughness and grit needed to win in the NBA was not on display. Bojan Bogdanovic had 24 points as the veteran, and A win that helps exorcize the demons of last season. With Luka Doncic running the show, the Mavericks were up by 22 and seemingly in total control of the game. Jonas Valanciunas had 13 rebounds to go with his 15 points, and he was a big part of the Pelicans dominating in the paint. Two huge shots from Damion Lee capped off a dramatic and cathartic comeback. The Pelicans grabbed the offensive rebound on 45.3% of their missed shots — 21 offensive boards — on their way to 36 second-chance points (the Nets had four). Kevin Durant looked great, scoring 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting, and he even had four blocks. On offense he looked like an awkward fit trying to figure out how to playoff off Kevin Durant and The scary thing for the rest of the league? The talent on the roster is unquestionable, but does this team have the grit, the toughness, the determination to push through when things get hard?

Kawhi Leonard to come off bench for LA Clippers' opener (ESPN)

The Clippers will have Kawhi Leonard come off the bench Thursday night against the Lakers in his regular-season return from an ACL injury.

"He has to understand that, as great as he is, that it is not going to just come overnight. "We had a chance to bring him off the bench, start him, see how he looks and feels," Lue said. There are going to be some times where he looks like Kawhi Leonard, there are going to be some times where he is just trying to get a feel and not playing well. "Just want to have him for the end of the game, if we need him," Lue said before the contest. Coming off his ACL injury, Leonard said he pretty much spent 12 to 13 months in the gym working out and adding more muscle. [San Antonio Spurs](/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs) in 2013-14 when he played as a reserve on Nov.

Clippers' Kawhi Leonard to come off the bench on opening night vs ... (CBSSports.com)

He was in his second season in the NBA, and it was his first game back in the lineup after missing about a month with quadriceps tendinitis. Before his return, ...

This isn't the playoffs, but with Leonard out of the starting lineup for the Clippers' season opener against the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/), Curry has some competition for the title of Greatest Fake Sixth Man Ever. [cautious approach](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-fully-cleared-for-training-camp-clippers-will-be-very-cautious-lawrence-frank-says/) to Leonard's return from a torn ACL. [Kawhi Leonard](/nba/players/1715792/kawhi-leonard/) came off the bench, he was 21 years old. Load management is nothing new for Leonard, and if he's going to be on a strict minutes limit, this move makes it simpler for the coaching staff to manage the rotation and make sure he's available at the end of games. He even started most of his games as a rookie. Before his return, he spent some time rehabbing with the [San Antonio Spurs](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/SA/san-antonio-spurs/)' G League affiliate, then called the Austin Toros.

Why did Kawhi Leonard come off the bench? Clippers coach Tyronn ... (Sporting News AU)

Kawhi Leonard is finally healthy enough to suit up for the Clippers, but he wasn't on the court for Thursday's opening tip against the Lakers.

— 52 57 60 9 74 72 64 Games started Games It's going to be a process. And I just thought whatever is best for him, whatever makes him feel better.

Report: Kawhi Leonard Potentially Coming off Bench Against Lakers (Sports Illustrated)

The report is a very interesting one for multiple reasons. One, Kawhi Leonard started games during the preseason and said he was feeling great. Two, the LA ...

If Kawhi Leonard does come off of the bench against the Lakers, it would be an incredibly stacked bench lineup for the Clippers. AllClippers spoke to some sources on the Clippers, and none of them knew that Reggie starting was the definite plan five days before opening night. Haynes also reported that Reggie Jackson would be starting for the LA Clippers on opening night roughly about a week before their opening night.

REPORT: Clippers 'Considering' Bringing Kawhi Leonard Off the ... (SLAM Online)

The Clippers are reportedly "considering the possibility' of bringing Kawhi Leonard off the bench to start the season to help with load management.

[temporary experiment could start as soon](https://www.slamonline.com/nba/ben-simmons-jamal-murray-kawhi-leonard-nba-return/) as Thursday when the Clippers start the season against their hallway rival Lakers. Leonard was playing his first game after missing nearly a month of action due to quadriceps tendinitis. The two-time DPOY ended up starting the other 57 games he appeared in that season. The last time Kawhi Leonard came off the bench, he was 21-years-old playing his second season in the NBA. [SLAM 240](https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/clippers-240/) cover star [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=Kawhi+Leonard) off the bench to start the season in an attempt to manage his workload, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Los Angeles Clippers have been considering the possibility of bringing Kawhi Leonard off the bench to start the season in order to manage his minutes, league sources tell— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes)

Will Kawhi Leonard's return finally net Clippers a championship? (FOXSports.com)

Kawhi Leonard is back. Can he and Paul George lead the Clippers to their first title? Skip Bayless is predicting as much.

[ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/tony-brown-referee-who-worked-nba-finals-dies-at-55) [Joe Ingles](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/joe-ingles-player) happened. … I need AD [[Anthony Davis]](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/anthony-davis-player) to have 30 and 14." "And off my bench come [John Wall](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/john-wall-player), [Norman Powell](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/norman-powell-player), [Luke Kennard](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/luke-kennard-player), [Nicolas Batum](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/nicolas-batum-player), [Robert Covington](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/robert-covington-player) and [Terrance Mann](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers-team-roster). Remember what Kawhi and PG did to [Luka [Dončić]](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/luka-doncic-player)? [Shannon Sharpe](https://www.foxsports.com/personalities/shannon-sharpe) wasn't hearing Bayless' sentiments. I think [Giannis [Antentokounmpo]](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/giannis-antetokounmpo-player) would've had no choice but to let it happen. If Leonard and George can remain healthy, they'll be picked to win more of their tilts than not. [Reggie Jackson](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/reggie-jackson-player), [Marcus Morris](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/marcus-morris-player) and Big Zu [ [Ivica Zubac](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/ivica-zubac-player)]," Bayless said on Thursday's show. [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/kawhi-leonard-player) returns to the fold for the sturdy group, rejoining running mate [Paul George](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/paul-george-player) and newcomer [John Wall](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/john-wall-player) to bolster a unit about as complete as the league has to offer. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-team) have unsurprisingly [shouldered most of the city's spotlight](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/lakers-still-talk-of-nba-no-matter-what-happens-elsewhere) when it comes to basketball matters, the [LA Clippers](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers-team) are quietly seeking to supplant their arena-mates as L.A.'s hot topic. And while this year is no different as far as projections are concerned, LA's failure to launch has grown tiresome among its fan base.