On December 27, Kawhi Leonard, the star player for the LA Clippers, released a well-produced yet mysterious video across social media platforms. The video showed him arriving at a lake, seemingly trying to enjoy a peaceful escape, while listening to a voicemail listing his many obligations – recovery, family, media duties. He appeared annoyed by the interruption.
As the message played, he exited his car and noticed a man fishing. He approached him. The fisherman sat beside a white bucket containing a basketball and a small stereo. The radio softly announced, “We`ve got exciting news coming out of Los Angeles… Kawhi Leonard looks to be returning to the court pretty soon…” The fisherman turned up the volume.
“I knew I could find you here,” Leonard said to the fisherman. “You catch anything?”
The fisherman, revealed to be another version of Kawhi Leonard under a bucket hat, replied, “Nah, not yet. There`s been good days. There`s been bad days. But I keep coming back. It`s the nature of the game.”
This advertisement was clearly designed to generate discussion, and it served as a reminder that Leonard was still active, working behind the scenes, and possibly nearing a return after missing nearly four months due to his latest right knee injury.
However, after numerous comebacks from various injuries during his six years with the Clippers, it was difficult to gauge the true state of Leonard`s health or predict how long any return might last.
A week later, Leonard did indeed return. In the 37 games he played until the end of the season, the Clippers posted a 26-11 record, equivalent to a 58-win pace, climbing from sixth place in the competitive Western Conference to tie for third. Leonard`s performance was impressive, averaging 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and nearly 2 steals, while shooting 41% from three-point range.
He has been exceptional, and even more dominant in the first two games of the current playoffs. His performance in the Clippers` 105-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their first-round series on Monday night evoked memories of his highly efficient, devastating brilliance during the Toronto Raptors` 2019 championship run.
He made almost every shot he attempted, scoring 39 points on 15-for-19 shooting, effectively navigating the swarming Nuggets defense. Denver star Nikola Jokic commented on Leonard`s scoring, saying, “He made tough shots. But are they really tough shots for him, a guy who`s been making those for such a long time?”
Through the first two games of this series, Leonard is averaging 30.5 points on an outstanding 71% shooting from the field (24-for-34), including 50% from beyond the arc (5-for-10). His defensive impact has been equally significant. In Game 1, he limited opponents to 2-of-5 shooting (40%) as the primary defender. In Game 2, that number dropped to 2-of-12 (16.7%).
This level of play is a glimpse of the player the Clippers envisioned when they acquired him six years ago. Yet, he has participated in only 266 out of a possible 492 regular-season games (54%) since joining the team in one of the NBA`s most significant free-agent acquisitions in recent memory.
He has seemingly suffered injuries at the most critical moments – right after periods of brilliant play that fueled the Clippers` hopes and precisely when the season mattered most in the playoffs, where he has historically excelled.
In 2021, he tore his ACL during a second-round series against the Utah Jazz. Although LA managed to finish that series without him, they lacked the firepower to overcome the Phoenix Suns in the conference finals. In 2023, he tore his meniscus in the first round. Last season, he attempted to play in LA`s first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but his knee inflammation did not respond to treatment, forcing the team to sideline him.
These injuries, combined with his and the Clippers` diligent and often secretive load management and rehabilitation processes, have largely defined his tenure. His career with the team has become one of the great “what-ifs” in modern basketball history.
And when Paul George departed as a free agent last summer, it felt like the conclusion of that story.
However, the video Leonard shared on December 27 presented an entirely new perspective. It was a narrative that perhaps people weren`t ready to fully accept then, or one that the Clippers and their fanbase might still be hesitant to completely embrace now.
“I keep coming back,” Leonard stated in the video.
It`s a simple message, but it carries significant weight. James Harden, Leonard`s teammate, believes he deserves more recognition for this resilience. “He loves to hoop,” Harden commented.
Harden explained that if Leonard didn`t have this passion, he wouldn`t endure the countless hours of rehabilitation, strengthening, and conditioning necessary to recover from the types of injuries he has experienced over the years. “I feel like that about everybody that`s in the league that goes through something that is out of their hands, where they can`t control, it`s always the negative,” Harden said. “That`s something we got to live with, I guess, in the world. But as for me, being close to him every single day and seeing the work that he puts in, you appreciate him.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue hopes this dedication is what people see now, as Leonard has remarkably returned to peak condition just in time for a playoff run. “This is what Kawhi lives for,” Lue stated. “He`s healthy for the playoffs, and we know when we got a healthy Kawhi, we can win any series.”
Naturally, there`s no guarantee how long Leonard can maintain this level. He and the Clippers have been meticulous and disciplined in their approach this season, completely ignoring any public or private pressure for him to return sooner from offseason clean-up surgery.
This contrasts sharply with last season, when the Clippers and Leonard faced scrutiny due to the league`s new player participation policy and the 65-game minimum for league awards.
This year, the sole priority was ensuring he finished the season healthy and in optimal condition for the playoffs. He sat out the first four months, gradually building strength and meeting specific benchmarks before increasing his activity. When he finally returned in early January, the Clippers enforced strict minute restrictions, even keeping him out of closing lineups. While this might seem confusing or frustrating to outsiders, it`s necessary due to the complex nature of Leonard`s knee issues. It`s not just one injury at this point; it`s the cumulative effect of all of them, each leaving inflammation and scar tissue.
He experiences “good days and bad days,” as he says in the video. His knee condition is inherently unpredictable. “It`s the nature of the game,” he says. Leonard has learned to accept this uncertainty. “I`m just happy to be able to move,” he commented after Game 2. The challenge for everyone else is to accept it as well.
“I sat and watched these playoff games and series the past two years,” Leonard reflected. “So being able to be front-line out there, it just feels good for me no matter which way the game goes. That`s what I`m taking pride in. I just want to be out there and play and be on the front line with my team.”
A week after releasing the initial video by the lake, Leonard posted a second part. Carrying a tackle box and fishing rod, he walked towards the shore. Birds chirped overhead, and the stereo was playing commentary: “When is he going to play? … Is he really hurt? What`s going on here?”
“You hear them?” Leonard asked, referring to the voices from the stereo. “They like to come and watch the fun — and chirp. But when I show up, they always quiet.”