Ty Lue says Kawhi Leonard 'probably' not returning for Clippers this season
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue dropped an unprompted update on star Kawhi Leonard following the Clippers' 111-110 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. And it isn't optimistic.
Lue was asked what makes the current team special to coach and gave an update on Leonard, who has not yet played this season while rehabbing an ACL tear.
"We know Kawhi is probably not going to come back," Lue told reporters. "We don't know the status of [Paul George]. But these guys continue to just keep fighting every single night."
Leonard sustained the injury in the 2020-21 Western Conference semifinals series against the Utah Jazz. Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported last month Leonard is ahead of schedule in his rehab and a return this season is possible. Lue, asked about that optimism and if it's now an issue of the calendar, clarified the situation a tad.
"Yeah I don't know. I'm not a doctor," Lue told reporters. "But like I said, hope is stronger than fear. I'm hoping every night that these two guys can come back. But you never know."
Leonard, George remain out
Leonard, 30, missed the final eight games of last season with what the Clippers called a "sprain" at the time. The team later announced the injury and he underwent surgery in July. A month later the three-time Defensive Player of the Year signed a four-year deal worth $176.3 million.
George, 31, has not played since Dec. 22 while dealing with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He had already missed time with a sprained ligament in the elbow.
The initial timeline for the seven-time All-Star was three-to-four weeks, which passed at about mid-January. Lue said George will have an MRI on Feb. 24 to see if the injury has improved. George averaged 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists before the injury sidelined him.
The Clippers (27-27) sit eighth in the Western Conference. They host the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. All-Star weekend begins Feb. 18.
