Kevin Durant hopeful for a healthy Kawhi Leonard: ‘The league is better though when Kawhi Leonard is playing’

Brooklyn Nets famous person Kevin Durant is nothing however hopeful that Kawhi Leonard will quickly turn into constantly out there to play.

The Nets outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night time in a battle of shorthanded groups which might be lacking loads of star energy. While Durant stood up actively and willed his group with a extremely environment friendly 27 markers, Leonard is nonetheless on his means from knee restoration, as he ramped up and lately participated within the Clippers’ five-on-five exercise.

Though his absence served as a enormous benefit for them to choose up a straightforward 110-95 win, Durant nonetheless believes that within the huge image, a healthy Leonard vastly advantages the entire league. 

“He’s an all-time great,” Durant told ClutchPoints’ Tom Azarly about Leonard. “He’s been through injuries before. He knows how to deal with his body. He knows his body better than anybody.

“The league is better though when Kawhi Leonard is playing. Definitely helped, it was easier not having him on the floor tonight as far as we need wins, but would love to see him back soon.”

After experiencing soreness in his proper knee, Leonard was shelved by the Clippers for excessive precautionary measures within the early portion of this season. The stated knee sustained the partial ACL tear again in 2021 playoffs, which finally required him to take a surgical procedure and a 2021-22 season-long absence to get well.

He has missed the earlier ten video games of the Clippers, who went 5-5 in that stretch. For Durant, coach Ty Lue deserves the credit score for holding down the road with the two-time Finals MVP taking his time to be again sooner.

“Just think players like playing hard for him,” Durant continued. “You got a lot of trick plays out of timeouts that can drive you crazy as a player. And he coaches all game. I really appreciate the coaches that get up out their seat and coach possessions and walk their guys through stuff.

“It’s a lot of chatter on their bench from their coaches and that just comes from having a tight coaches locker room and that’s all led by T-Lue.”

Brooklyn and L.A. will meet once more on Feb. 6 subsequent yr. As such, followers can solely hope that each Durant and Leonard might be activated for a marquee matchup.