Kawhi Leonard Receives Encouraging Injury Update As Raptors Coach Offers Fresh Hope For His Return

Kawhi Leonard receives promising news on his injury status© Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP

Kawhi Leonard is “doing well,” according to Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic. The update came Sunday, before Toronto faced the Lakers in Los Angeles. Leonard has been out since the start of the season with swelling in his left knee, and details have been scarce. Rajakovic did give fans one date to circle on the calendar. A fuller update on the injury is coming Tuesday. The two-time Finals MVP is hardly a minor piece, so any word on progress is welcome in Toronto, which sits at 3-2.

What Is Kawhi Leonard's Latest Injury Update?

Kawhi Leonard has barely had a chance to settle in. He returned to Toronto this offseason through a blockbuster trade with the Clippers, then signed a two-year, $115 million extension. He has played only two games this season, averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.0 minutes. Swelling in the left knee has now forced the Raptors to sit him.

The first estimate was a week. NBA insider Chris Haynes later reported the absence could last three to four weeks. The $115 million star reportedly left Toronto's camp to get treatment elsewhere, and there is no structural damage. Toronto has played five games, so a month away would cover a big chunk of the early schedule.

The next update is set for Tuesday, a detail Sportsnet's Blake Murphy passed along. Until then, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett lead the wing group, with Ja'Kobe Walter in the mix.

Why Is Charles Barkley Praising Leonard's Comebacks?

The injury drew harsh words from Stephen A. Smith, who called Leonard the “worst superstar in the history of sports.” The ESPN host accused the forward of collecting paychecks without playing enough games over his career. Barkley took the opposite view and pointed to how Leonard returns.

“I have said this before. I have been in the NBA for 40 years. I've never seen a guy who can miss a month and come back and look just as good,” Barkley said.

He kept going. “Everybody else has rust. When guys miss a month or a year, they come back rusty.”

Then came the line about the 6-foot-6 forward himself. “Kawhi Leonard is the only guy that I've seen in my years – he can miss a year or two months, he comes back, and it's like: he looks great!'”

Both takes are fair to weigh, and they ask different questions. Smith is asking how often Leonard is available. Barkley is asking what happens once he is. Rajakovic's update on Tuesday should show whether Barkley's theory gets tested soon.