Despite being in the headlines in the offseason for the wrong reasons, Kawhi Leonard has shown his readiness to play this season, showcasing improved agility and more engagement in the Los Angeles Clippers‘ first two preseason games.
As a matter of fact, the two-time NBA Finals MVP is averaging 17.5 points on 55 percent shooting in only 18.5 minutes per game in October. Kawhi’s solid performances have not gone unnoticed by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who relayed that if the two-way terror can stay healthy and maintain this level of play, the Clippers have what it takes to rule the wild Western Conference.
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Health will always be the question
When healthy, Kawhi is one of the NBA’s most spectacular players. A 6’7″ small forward who can score with the best of them, with his ability to get buckets at various areas on the floor, as well as a lockdown defender who can easily shut down the opposing team’s most potent offensive threat, Kawhi is the rare player who can substantially impact both ends.
Unfortunately, Kawhi’s health has been a major issue throughout his career. Over the last three seasons, he has played in only 157 regular-season games and 11 postseason matches. That said, nobody can blame Windy for being cautiously optimistic about Kawhi’s chances of playing a lot of games this season.
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“It’s similar to the conversations about Joel Embiid — it’s very hard to make assumptions about health,” he said on “NBA Today.”
However, Windhorst asserted that it would be a different story if Kawhi were able to play a full load of games without his body breaking down.
“If Kawhi is going to be this player, the Clippers can win the Western Conference,” Windy boldly declared. “As good as the Thunder are, and as strong as the Nuggets look, the team I watched last night is a conference championship–level team if they can stay healthy.”
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Bobby Marks also chimed in, saying Kawhi’s slimmer physique has helped him become more active on the court. More importantly, he has been able to participate in the Clippers’ training camp from day one — a departure from previous seasons, when he would join the team after the season had already gotten underway.
“You can tell he’s lost weight because his frame — from a physical standpoint — looks leaner. When Malika Andrews interviewed him last night, you could see it in his face that he’s slimmed down,” Marks stated.
“The other thing, too, as Malika pointed out, is that this is a full training camp he’s been able to go through. Last year, he didn’t play his first game until January. Having a full camp allows him to hit the ground running instead of waiting two or three months to get back on the court,” he added.
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Pleased with how the roster has shaped up
How the Clippers’ season will end will largely fall on the shoulders of Kawhi and former league MVP James Harden. At the same time, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have other All-Stars on the team, including ageless veterans Brook Lopez and Chris Paul, as well as Bradley Beal.
“It was big, because obviously front office got a chance to see what we needed — not just from me being out in a playoff series. Me being able to play a full playoff series and what we needed around James, myself, Zu, the other talents on the team,” Kawhi said after their second preseason game.
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The Clippers have one of the most stacked rosters in the entire league. Although age will be an issue for most of the team’s core players, there’s no denying that their talent and experience render them capable of knocking off the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.