Kawhi Leonard says he's fully recovered from ACL, meniscus injuries - ESPN

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — After an entire training camp and preseason without any restrictions or setbacks, Kawhi Leonard said he's feeling as good as he has since tearing his right ACL over two years ago.

Leonard is fully recovered from his torn ACL, having had surgery on it July 13, 2021, and a cleanup procedure June 6 to repair a torn meniscus suffered in the same knee during last season's first round against Phoenix.

«I feel good and I'm ready to go,» Leonard said before Clippers practice Tuesday. «I think last year came off of ACL, so pretty much it's like a two-year process. Talking to guys [who suffered ACL injuries] and seeing when they do start feeling good or just trusting your knee, it's just something that you feel and I mean one day just turns around for you. So it wasn't really nothing too different.»

Asked whether he had crossed that day when it turned around for him, Leonard confirmed that he is past it.

«Yeah, I'm saying I feel good,» he said.

The Clippers, though, will still go into Wednesday's home opener against Portland short-handed. Newly named starter Terance Mann sprained his left ankle during Monday's practice and has been ruled out against the Blazers. Ty Lue said Mann will be considered day-to-day. Backup point guard Bones Hyland, who sprained his left ankle during a preseason game last week, practiced Tuesday, and Lue said the team will see how Hyland feels before determining his status for the opener.

At least Lue will have Leonard in a season opener without any restrictions for the first time during his tenure as Clippers coach. In Lue's previous three seasons as their head coach, Leonard was limited or injured for the opener.

Leonard missed all of the 2021-22 season before starting last season