By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Missing the entire 2021-22 season, Kawhi Leonard is ready to return to action backed with the limited perks of being sidelined for such a long period.
Leonard, 31, confirmed he would be back in the 2022 NBA Playoffs if the Los Angeles Clippers managed to make it to the Finals. “I mean, it’s all woulda, coulda, shoulda right?” he mentioned during the 2022 Preseason Media Day, “But yeah, if they would have made it to the Finals last year, you would have seen me playing.”
The two-time NBA champion feels good and also stronger focusing on working out over the last months. “That whole process is just lifting weights and getting stronger. I definitely got a lot stronger,” he explained.
“I’ll be participating in training camp. Then from there, just seeing how my progression is, how I feel, what I’m not feeling, is it moving correctly, and just keep going from there, just gradually building up,” he confirmed being cleared for the 2022 NBA Preseason, “But right now, I feel good, and the plan is to start camp and play.”
Signing with the Clippers in the offseason, John Wall will be back in action after a lengthy stint on the sidelines as well. “Everything I’ve been through the last two, three last years, I don’t think a lot of people could have got through that,” he touched on being forced to the sidelines and mental health challenges.
Teammate Paul George looked focused on the goal of becoming an NBA champion.
“Understanding the opportunity, the window and I think that’s how I approached everyday training, which is a focused, locked-in mentality to bring the best out of myself to get the best out of myself,” he shared his view on the 2022-23 season, “My window is shrinking to be a champion.”
Additional depth for the team coached by Tyronn Lue includes French Nicolas Batum and Croatia Ivica Zubac. The latter is coming off playing in the 2022 EuroBasket and averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
“There is not much that I can take from there, because it is such a different game. But being one of the main guys of the team, I think that helped me build on my confidence,” said Zubac on benefiting from recent international experience.
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