Kawhi Leonard begins return-to-play process following knee treatment

The Toronto Raptors confirmed Tuesday night that forward Kawhi Leonard has successfully completed treatment to address swelling in his left knee.

In a two-paragraph statement released at 7 p.m. (ET), the Raptors said Leonard will now begin the return to play process in Toronto and noted that his progress will be “updated in one week.”

Injury History and Recent Performance

Leonard was placed on the team’s injury report one hour before tipoff of an Oct. 25 game in Minnesota. The Raptors announced two days later that Leonard would miss at least a week due to the swelling. He will miss his fifth game when the Raptors visit the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. The Raptors are 2-2 without him so far, according to Globalnews.ca, while Sportsnet reports the team is 2-3 in their five games without Leonard.

In the first two games of the season, Leonard averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 3.5 steals while playing 26.0 minutes, according to Sportsnet. During that span, he shot 32 per cent.

Leonard has a history of lower-body injuries. During the 2018-19 season with Toronto, he missed time due to a left patellar injury. Teammate Danny Green said during the Eastern Conference final against Milwaukee that Leonard was “playing through pain.”

In the 2021 playoffs, Leonard sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which kept him out for the following season. In the 2021-22 season, he played 65 regular-season games with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals.

Career Context

Leonard is in his second stint with the Raptors. During the 2018-19 season, he led Toronto to its only title and earned his second NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.

Throughout his first 14 seasons in the NBA, Leonard has played 60 or more games eight times. This includes playing 60 regular-season games during the 2018-19 championship season.

Before joining the Raptors, Leonard was acquired via an off-season trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. The summer included a "drawn-out trade saga and NBA investigation," according to Sportsnet.

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Sources

• globalnews.ca: Raptors’ Leonard completes swollen knee treatment | Globalnews.ca
• sportsnet.ca: Raptors' Leonard begins return-to-play process, will be re-evaluated in one week - Sportsnet.ca

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.