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By Ricardo Sandoval
Contributing Sports Writer
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Los Angeles Clippers superstar forward Kawhi Leonard said he feels fine after the first preseason game against the Golden State Warriors. Leonard played the first half of the contest on Saturday.
The Clippers fell to the Warriors, 91-90, but the biggest concern of the night went towards Leonard. At halftime of the contest, Leonard spoke to the media and said he felt fine after his first game since late April.
"I feel good," Leonard said at halftime of the Clippers 91-90 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors at the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday. "Just been taking my time, getting stronger, and getting ready.
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"... We're just taking it slow, day by day and just trying to get me back on the floor. Once those conversations come, we'll see what they're talking about [on the best approach for back-to-backs]."
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It's been a whirlwind offseason for the six-time All-Star. Leonard has had many problems with his knee. This time, it was inflammation that kept him out of the Paris Olympics, and he has been held out of most of the training camp to work on strengthening his knee.
Leoanrd's lower body has not been kind to him for most of his career, but things appeared to be different last season. He played in 68 regular season games, the most since the 2016-17 season, and averaged 23.7 points per game, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three.
While his regular season was strong, he missed most of the first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers fell to the Mavericks in six games, and Leonard missed four of them.
It was the fourth consecutive season in which injuries have kept Leoanrd from reaching his true potential as a basketball player, and his status as one of the very best to grace the court.
This past season was significant for Leonard and the Clippers. He agreed to terms with L.A. on a three-year, $153 million extension through the 2026-27 season. This move was a bit risky, as Leonard has struggled to remain healthy in his Hall of Fame career.
When Leonard is healthy, his impact on the Clippers and on basketball cannot be disputed. He is a two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, six-time All-NBA, seven-time All-Defensive team, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team.
Leonard will enter his 14th pro season, with his focus clearly on making sure he's healthy for an entire postseason for the first time since 2020. So far things are going well for Leonard.
More news: Bronny James Was Almost Drafted By Direct Rival Ahead of LA's Pick
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