"Limping in this photo" - NBA fans react to picture of Kawhi Leonard working out with USC head coach

Fans have had mixed reactions to Kawhi Leonard’s recent practice session at the Galen Center with USC men's basketball head coach Eric Musselman, including making jokes about his health.

Leonard, who was removed from Team USA’s roster for the men’s basketball event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, seems to be exploring other ways to stay in shape during the offseason. Fans took to social media to react to his photo with Musselman.

Some fans joked about Leonard’s condition, with X (formerly Twitter) user @BazHoopz commenting on his limp in the photo:

“He (Kawhi Leonard) is limping in this photo.”

Others felt Leonard looked fit enough to join Team USA in Paris:

“Looks healthy to me… Team USA was being weird man,” said @Gmona48.

“He should be in Paris playing. USA Basketball politics,” added @briansdsea.

One fan humorously suggested Leonard might play for USC:

“Does he have any eligibility left?” asked @jordanhk92.

Here are other reactions to the photo:

Fans react to Kawhi Leonard's recent photo

Why is Kawhi Leonard not playing for Team USA?

Regarding Leonard’s absence from the Olympics, USA Basketball executive director Grant Hill explained earlier this month that the decision to replace Leonard with Derrick White was made in the "best interest" of Team USA.

Hill stated that the choice was made with input from both USA Basketball and the Clippers:

"We just felt that we had to pivot, and not to get into the particulars in terms of what went into the decision, but we just felt it was in our best interest, but also in the Clippers' and Kawhi's best interest, to move in a different direction," Hill said.

“Ultimately, he was sent home, but we were in conversation with the Clippers on that.”

Kawhi Leonard missed Games 1, 4, 5 and 6 of the Clippers' first-round series and the final eight games of the regular season due to right knee pain. In the games he played, he scored just 24 points and did not make a single 3-pointer.

He missed the entire 2021-22 season following major surgery on his right knee, which he injured during the 2021 playoffs. The Clippers made their only Western Conference finals appearance that year, but Leonard was sidelined for the entire season.

Regarded as one of the top two-way forwards in basketball, Leonard is known for his outstanding midrange game and defensive prowess. However, injuries in recent seasons have affected his performance and availability.

When healthy, Leonard is a dominant force. He averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 68 games during the 2023-24 season, earning his sixth All-Star appearance.