Clippers' Kawhi Leonard thinks league's new policy 'mocks' his approach

Leonard and the term “load management” are synonymous with each other so it’s only natural that the focus would shift toward him in the wake of the league announcing its new policy on resting star players.

Leonard was forced to miss the Clippers’ last three postseason games last year due to a torn meniscus, resulting in a first-round loss to the Phoenix Suns in five games. This injury came after missing the entire 2021-22 season.

Entering his fifth year with the team, Leonard has never played more than 57 games, although he reiterated his desire to play as many games as possible. 

“I work out every day in the summertime to play the game, not to sit and watch people play,” he said.

Leonard has also only played in eight back-to-backs during that same time span and does not meet the requirements of being 35 years or older, playing 34,000+ minutes or 1,000+ games, which would’ve exempted him from restrictions on resting those types of games under the new policy.

Although it may seem like the Player Participation Policy will drastically affect the way the Clippers manage Leonard’s health for the 2023-24 season, the truth of the matter is that the team will likely come up with legitimate reasons to sit him when it needs to.

Coming back from a major injury in back-to-back seasons provides the perfect basis to rest Leonard, so it shouldn’t come as a shock when we inevitably see him sit out as many games as he needs to with some version of a “sore right knee” injury tag.