INGLEWOOD — Clippers star Kawhi Leonard took part in a five-on-five practice on Thursday, checking off another box in his recovery from right knee issues. His first practice was Dec. 10, but he did not do any live contact drills until eight days ago.
But his progress in full-contact scrimmages is not enough to get him on the court for a game and he will miss his 31st game this season when the Clippers take on the Golden State Warriors on Friday night at the Intuit Dome.
Leonard also will not travel with the team when they head out on a three-game trip that begins in New Orleans on Monday. Instead, he will stay back and get reps with the Clippers’ Oceanside-based G League team.
Coach Tyronn Lue said Leonard needs to “play some more five-on-five. … We gotta get him in, keep stacking the days and see how he fares after that,” before he suits up for a live NBA game.
Lue was tight-lipped as to how many more practices Leonard needs before he will be cleared to play. There had been speculation that the two-time NBA Finals MVP would return before Christmas; now it seems likely fans won’t see him until 2025.
Part of the problem in stacking those practices is the team’s availability between games. The Clippers (17-13) will play three games over the next five nights and five games in nine days, three of them on the road.
“We just (are) making sure he is getting the right amount of reps, making sure he is doing everything so this doesn’t occur again (and) we can kind of monitor the fluid (in his knee) and see how it’s working,” Lue said. “So far, it’s been really good and we just want to continue to keep him progressing.”
Leonard accompanied the team for the first time this season when they traveled to Dallas for two games against the Mavericks and on to Tennessee for a single game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Lue said Leonard’s progress was noticeable.
“Yeah, he had a couple good days and going on this next trip, it’s not really a chance to practice because we play three games in four (actually five) nights, so it’s not really worth going,” Lue said.
For young players like second-year forward Jordan Miller, seeing Leonard practice has been special.
“Just his ability to shoot the mid-range, whether you’re there or not, it feels like it doesn’t even bother him,” Miller said. “And just his presence, right? You got to respect his game. If he’s posting up, you got to go double. You know what I’m saying?
“So, I think that’s going to be a good thing for our team. I think Kawhi has always been a great player. I don’t think he’s lost a step at all.”
DICK PARSONS REMEMBERED
Dick Parsons, who took over as Clippers governor and CEO after Donald Sterling was forced out as owner and before Steve Ballmer bought the team, died Thursday. He was 76.
“The Clippers mourn the loss of Dick Parsons, who was appointed CEO and Governor of the franchise during a tumultuous period. He lent leadership and credibility that helped in the Clippers ownership transition. We send our condolences to his friends and family” the Clippers said in a statement.
WARRIORS AT CLIPPERS
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood
TV/radio: FDSN SoCal, 570 AM