INGLEWOOD, Calif. — LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, sidelined all season because of inflammation in his right knee, returned to practice Tuesday, coach Ty Lue said. Leonard could return to game action within the next two weeks, barring any setbacks, sources told ESPN.
It was the first time Leonard, 33, had practiced with the team since last season. Leonard's knee also caused him to bow out of the Paris Olympics in the summer after originally being selected to play for Team USA.
«He did offensive script, defensive work, and just no contact,» Lue said. «But he did it pretty much everything else.»
Leonard could be seen leaning against a basketball stanchion after practice while James Harden and Kris Dunn got in extra shooting, but he did not speak to reporters.
Lue said Leonard looked good and added that his presence gave the team a lift. The Clippers have lost three out of their past five games and on Tuesday announced that Derrick Jones Jr. has a right hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
«Really good sign, just seeing him out there moving, moving well,» Lue said. «I think the biggest thing for him is just the confidence in it. Just having the confidence to keep doing it, not to feel the pain, and just continue to keep getting through it.
»So, it was good to see him on the floor and it gave us a little juice today just for our guys seeing him on the floor, it really picked up our energy."
Without Leonard, the Clippers have been a surprise success story so far, starting the season 14-11 — sixth place in the Western Conference. They have the No. 6 defensive rating in the league, allowing 108.5 points per 100 possessions. Norman Powell has also been an early surprise after increasing his scoring average
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