Clippers' training camp has healthy Leonard, good vibes
PLAYA VISTA » There's a different vibe hanging around Clippers' training camp this season, a high-level energy that permeates the hard practices and session-ending runs, and it begins and ends with Kawhi Leonard's knees.
For the first time in two years, Leonard is healthy, on the court, and participating in drills without limitations. He's also smiling.
The injury-plagued AllStar missed all of 2021 because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and last season he slowly returned to the lineup and faced minutes restrictions. This season, Leonard is free to run the court after recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee that he suffered in last season's Game 2 of the team's first-round playoff series, and it shows in his face. He's laughing and joking, something the rest of the team has noticed.
“I think he's looking good in training camps,” secondyear center Moussa Diabate said Monday. “I don't think I've seen any big difference, but I would definitely say that we've been running a lot more so that definitely probably helps (the mood.)”
Amir Coffey, who has been with the team since 2019, said “everyone's smiling. It's good vibes. People are excited and the team camaraderie is really up right now.”
Leonard is hesitant to take credit for the team's energy, downplaying any urgency in his fifth season with Paul George to win a title. Injuries have eliminated their chances of winning an NBA title or even the conference in the past.
In their best chance since the duo joined the team, Leonard suffered a knee sprain in the 2021 Western Conference semifinals and although the Clippers managed to advance to the conference finals, Leonard was unable to recover and missed
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Leonard is looking to do everything he can to change the team's fortunes; he knows it starts with him.
“It could have been a little bit of that (urgency) because I wasn't able to do as much as I'm doing now,” Leonard said. “Now my recovery is a lot quicker so I think I'm able to move and just show them I'm engaged a lot more but that could be a reason (for the upbeat mood) but who knows. It could be (Coach) Ty Lue as well just preaching for us to be better, run harder, play faster.
“Like I said, PG came in with a better mindset. Obviously, Russ (Westbrook) being a Hall of Fame point guard, you know what he brings to the team. I feel like everything combined is making us play harder or having that energy.”
Lue attributed the team's lighter attitude to having full complement players. Period.
“I think guys getting healthy and being healthy and PG and Kawhi being able to start camp and with no restrictions, that was huge,” Lue said. “I think it was huge for them mentally just knowing that we're going into camp and we're 100% healthy because when you're in camp and you're limited, you're not really 100% and then the games start.
“Seeing them come back and being healthy and just the vibe of our team is totally different.”
ALSO » Lues said everyone except Brandon Boston Jr. will be available for tonight's preseason game against the defending champion Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. Boston has been hampered by a knee injury he suffered in the team's preseason opener in Hawaii.