“I’ve seen peak Kawhi, I’m not worried about it” - Kawhi Leonard’s championship-winning teammate confident about the former finding his feet after rough start

Norman Powell isn't worried about LA Clippers teammate Kawhi Leonard's rough start to the season. Leonard returned from a year-long injury layoff after undergoing surgery for an ACL tear in his right knee. He has missed 13 games and is on a minute restriction when in action.

Leonard has played passively over his last few games. The two-time NBA Finals MVP has attempted 9.0 shots per contest in his past three appearances, converting 40.7% of those attempts. Powell spoke about Kawhi's slow start to the year, saying:

“I’ve seen peak Kawhi. I’m not worried about it at all. He’s gonna get in that mode when the time comes.”

Powell was Leonard's teammate with the Toronto Raptors during their 2019 championship-winning year. The latter produced one of the best playoff performances to lead his team to a championship win. "The Klaw" left everyone speechless with his run, so it's obvious that his teammates would feel the same way.

Witnessing that up close and personal must have been special for Norman Powell and the rest of the 2019 Raptors team. It's also ensured Powell and the Clippers that Kawhi Leonard will flip the switch when needed.

It's still a young season, so it's understandable if Leonard is avoiding being aggressive right now. The Clippers need him to be successful in the playoffs this year, and Leonard is well aware of that.

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Kawhi Leonard's presence on the floor proving impactful for the LA Clippers

Kawhi Leonard seems far from playing his regular rotation minutes and playing with the same aggressiveness he does offensively. However, his presence on the court has made a difference for the LA Clippers. Opposing teams have continued to defend against Leonard at a high level, which has helped open up the floor for his teammates to thrive.

Leonard had a box +/- +26 (team-high) during the Clippers' 96-91 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. He registered only six points on 2-of-8 shooting. But the rest of his teammates were able to feed off the attention that he commanded from the opposition defense.

Reggie Jackson, Norman Powell and Marcus Morris had easier scoring opportunities because of Leonard's presence. The two-time champion had a similar impact during the Clippers' 121-114 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday. He scored eight points on 4-of-11 shooting, but once again had a positive box +/- score of +12.

He has struggled with his shot but has continued to play with intensity on the defensive end of the floor, ensuring that he contributes one way or the other. The Clippers will hope he stays available for large swathes. They have a 4-1 record with him playing and a 7-6 record in his absence.