Kawhi Leonard, born on June 29, 1991, is a professional basketball player representing the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA as of November 2024. He played during his high school years at Canyon Springs High School and Martin Luther King High School, earning the title of California Mr. Basketball in 2009. Furthering his career at San Diego State University for college basketball, he was recognized as a consensus second-team All-American during his sophomore year.
In the 2011 NBA Draft, Leonard was chosen as the 15th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers but had his rights traded to the San Antonio Spurs on draft night. With the Spurs, Leonard won an NBA championship in 2014 and was named the NBA Finals MVP. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2018, where he led the team to their first NBA championship in 2019 and won his second Finals MVP award. Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent in 2019 and has continued to play for the Clippers as of 2024.
Kawhi Leonard’s Injury History
Kawhi Leonard has faced multiple major injuries during his NBA career since his debut in 2011.
As per Spotrac, these are all the injuries Leonard has faced as of November 20, 2024,
| Date of Injury | Injury Name | Description |
| October 23, 2024 - Present | Knee | Kawhi Leonard has missed 13 games due to a knee injury. |
| April 2, 2024 - April 14, 2024 | Knee | He missed 8 games due to a knee injury. |
| March 10, 2024 - March 11, 2024 | Groin | Kawhi missed 1 game due to a groin injury. |
| February 14, 2024 - February 21, 2024 | Adductor | Leonard missed 1 game due to an adductor injury. |
| December 21, 2023 - December 31, 2023 | Hip | Kawhi missed 4 games due to a hip injury. |
| November 23, 2022 - December 4, 2022 | Ankle | Leonard missed 6 games due to an ankle injury. |
| October 21, 2021 - April 10, 2022 | Knee | Kawhi missed the entire 2021-2022 season due to a knee injury. |
| April 20, 2021 - April 30, 2021 | Foot | Leonard missed 5 games due to a foot injury. |
| April 13, 2021 - April 17, 2021 | Foot | Kawhi missed 3 games due to a foot injury. |
| March 25, 2021 - March 26, 2021 | Foot | Leonard missed 1 game due to a foot injury. |
| March 2, 2021 - March 3, 2021 | Back | Kawhi missed 1 game due to a back injury. |
| February 14, 2021 - February 20, 2021 | Leg | Leonard missed 3 games due to a leg injury. |
| December 27, 2020 - December 29, 2020 | Face | Kawhi missed 2 games due to a face injury. |
| January 5, 2020 - January 9, 2020 | Knee | Leonard missed 1 game due to a knee injury. |
| December 22, 2019 - December 24, 2019 | Knee | Kawhi missed 1 game due to a knee injury. |
| December 9, 2019 - December 10, 2019 | Knee | Leonard missed 1 game due to a knee injury. |
| November 27, 2019 | Knee | Kawhi missed 1 game due to a knee injury. |
| November 16, 2019 - November 19, 2019 | Knee | Leonard missed 2 games due to a knee injury. |
| December 11, 2018 - December 13, 2018 | Hip | He missed 2 games due to a hip injury. |
| November 4, 2018 - November 6, 2018 | Ankle | Leonard missed 2 games due to an ankle injury. |
| January 15, 2018 - April 11, 2018 | Quad | Kawhi missed 37 games due to a quad injury. |
| January 7, 2018 - January 12, 2018 | Shoulder | Leonard missed 3 games due to a shoulder injury. |
| December 23, 2017 - December 25, 2017 | Quad | Kawhi missed 1 game due to a quad injury. |
| October 18, 2017 - December 11, 2017 | Quad | Leonard missed 27 games due to a quad injury. |
| March 11, 2017 - March 12, 2017 | Concussion | Kawhi missed 1 game due to a concussion. |
| February 6, 2017 - February 7, 2017 | Quad | He missed 1 game due to a quad injury. |
| January 23, 2017 - January 26, 2017 | Hand | Kawhi missed 2 games due to a hand injury. |
| December 28, 2016 - December 31, 2016 | Stomach | Leonard missed 2 games due to a stomach issue. |
| March 25, 2016 - March 29, 2016 | Quad | Kawhi suffered from a quad injury. |
| February 18, 2016 - February 23, 2016 | Calf | Kawhi Leonard had a calf injury in February 2016. |
| November 14, 2015 - November 15, 2015 | Arm | Kawhi had his first NBA injury in November 2015. |
Major injuries Kawhi Leonard sustained in the NBA
Kawhi Leonard has sustained several significant injuries throughout his NBA career, including knee, quadriceps, and ankle issues. These injuries have impacted his playing time, often requiring extended recovery periods.
Quad (October 2017 - December 2017)
Kawhi Leonard suffered a right quadriceps tendinopathy injury, which caused him to miss the entire preseason as per The Washington Post. The injury was initially diagnosed as right quadriceps tendinopathy, and Leonard was placed in a rehabilitation program.
The San Antonio Spurs announced at that time, that there was no specific timeline for his return, and he continued to undergo treatment throughout the preseason. From October 18, 2017, to December 11, 2017, Kawhi missed 27 games for the San Antonio Spurs as per Basketball Reference.
Quad (January 2018 - April 2018)
In January 2018, Kawhi Leonard was sidelined indefinitely due to ongoing issues with his right quadriceps tendinopathy as per the NBA. The injury he faced in October 2017 has caused the issue again and he missed 37 games for the team from January 15, 2018, to April 11, 2018, as per Basketball Reference
Knee (October 2021 - April 2022)
In October 2021, Kawhi Leonard suffered a partial tear of his right ACL during Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Utah Jazz on June 14, 2021. The injury occurred during a drive to the basket, and Leonard immediately left the game. According to the NBA, this injury forced him to miss the entire 2021-2022 NBA season as he underwent surgery and focused on rehabilitation.
Knee (October 2024)
In October 2024, Kawhi Leonard was dealing with inflammation in his right knee, which has been a lingering issue since his surgery in 2019. The Los Angeles Clippers announced that Leonard would be sidelined indefinitely to start the NBA season as he continues his rehabilitation.
Clippers head coach Ty Lue mentioned that there is no specific timeline for Leonard's return. According to Basketball Reference, since October 23, 2024, he has missed 13 games for the Los Angeles Clippers, as of 18 November 2024.
FAQs on Kawhi Leonard
A. Kawhi Leonard was born on June 29, 1991, in Los Angeles, California.
A. Kawhi Leonard plays as a forward, specifically a small forward and power forward.
A. Kawhi Leonard played college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs before entering the NBA.
A. Kawhi Leonard has played for the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, and Los Angeles Clippers.
A. Yes, Kawhi Leonard has won two NBA championships, one with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and another with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
