Finally! Finally, superstar forward Kawhi Leonard is healthy enough to contribute regular NBA minutes. He has played seven games for the Los Angeles Clippers this season.  Health has been his arch-nemesis since the 2017-2018 season when he only played nine games for the San Antonio Spurs and was subsequently traded to the Toronto Raptors. 

However, his reputation precedes him. He is the defensive foil to LeBron James’s career arch, a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP, and Canada’s hero when the Toronto Raptors gambled on one year of his services. Most NBA experts familiar with his prowess will tell you that Kawhi Leonard makes you a championship contender. Leonard’s newfound health makes that statement accurate in 2025.

Kawhi Leonard Puts on Clinics When Not in One

Anytime Kawhi Leonard is typed into a search engine, the word “injury” auto-completes your search term. You can read about his extensive injury history if you choose. I want to point out that, despite that, the teams he played for move heaven and earth to give him maximum money and contending rosters every year. They are well aware of his availability or lack thereof, but they also know what he is capable of. Imagine if franchises like the Portland Trailblazers and Miami Heat operated similarly with their franchise stars.

Kawhi Leonard’s second season is the only healthy one in which he did not get an NBA award or accolade. Offenses tremble when Leonard has guarded their best player. He is 6’7″ with hands the size of baseball mitts, perfect for steals, deflections, and wreaking general havoc. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard’s career averages of 20 PPG, 6 REB, and 3 AST only tell half the story. He extended a dynasty in San Antonio as a young player. Kawhi Leonard ended the Golden State Warriors dynasty with a championship in 2019. Some argue that a Warriors dynasty would not exist if Zaza Pachulia had not slid under his jump shot in the 2017 playoffs. 

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The NBA has since developed the Kawhi Leonard rule, which attributes a flagrant foul to that play.

Kawhi Leonard Has Help

James Harden and Kawhi Leonard
INGLEWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 18: James Harden #1 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers look on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 18, 2024 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

I wrote earlier this year about the hopes for a Los Angeles Clippers championship this season. Everything stems from Kawhi Leonard’s availability. Despite the loss of Paul George in free agency, he has plenty of help.

The owner, Steve Ballmer, supports the team financially and during games. Head coach Tyronn Lue has championship experience as a player and a coach, which is valuable, considering the coaches at the top of West have far less experience than him.

Norman Powell is having a career year for the Clippers, averaging 24 points per game. His tough-nosed defense and ability to create offense allow the rest of his teammates to shine.

James Harden is still playing at a Hall of Fame level. He has never missed the playoffs, and his skill level has been consistently high for over a decade. This is Harden’s last hurrah, so you know he will be motivated.

The fans are behind the team.

A healthy Kawhi Leonard skewers my earlier postseason prediction that the Clippers would fall this year. Quite the opposite. They are a dangerous team that young contenders like the Thunder, Grizzlies, and Rockets will want to avoid.

Kawhi Leonard’s Championship Influence

INGLEWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 6: James Harden #1 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 6, 2024 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The term “load management” derives from limiting minutes and sometimes games to players with extensive or complex injury histories. Made famous by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, he would sit entire lineups for nationally televised games, back-to-backs, etc. Kawhi Leonard was the face of load management for years.

The NBA has since developed the “Kawhi Leonard” rule, which expects a minimum appearance of 65 games to be eligible for regular season awards.

“I’m not a guy that’s sitting down because I’m doing load management — well, when I was with the Raptors, it was different; like, I was coming [off] an injury,” Kawhi told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “And you have to know the details from the doctor.

“But if the league is seeing or trying to mock what I did with the Raptors, they should stop because I was injured during that whole year. But other than that, if I’m able to play, I’ll play basketball. I work out every day in the summertime to play the game. So, no league policy is helping me to play more games.”

The proliferation of Three-and-D players stems from teams trying to replicate The Claw on a smaller scale to combat explosive NBA offenses. Teams now employ similar players such as Amen Thompson and Mikal Bridges.

I’d be remiss if I failed to mention the devastating Los Angeles fires that have devastated communities in the California area. Leonard’s positive influence extends to his family and community as well.

The stakes are high this NBA season. Nobody has won back-to-back titles in almost a decade, and every team at the top looks beatable. Having a healthy Kawhi Leonard is a championship cheat code that the Los Angeles Clippers will happily exploit.

Photo Credit for featured cover image: Getty Images.

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About Author

Hidro Joseph

I am a (sometimes cynical, most times enthusiastic) fan of hoops at every level. My favorite NBA teams include the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat. I have been writing for Belly Up Sports since 2022. I previously wrote for Hoops United Media and I have written a book available online ("TLC: The Love Chronicles").

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