Kawhi Leonard. Image via: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 6-foot-6 forward has missed seven straight games, and no return date has been announced. Toronto has held up in the meantime, sitting at 5-4 before Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 35-year-old left Toronto to get treatment elsewhere before rejoining the club.
TSN’s Josh Lewenberg also reported Leonard has not been cleared for on-court activity as Toronto prepares for a two-game home stand.
Leonard is still not taking part in team activities or working on the court, the Serbian coach said, but the treatment is doing its job. Kawhi Leonard is back with the Toronto Raptors after a stretch of treatment away from the team, and the early word on his left knee is positive. Head coach Darko Rajakovic shared the update Sunday. Leonard has played just two games this season. The coach sounded upbeat, though his comments also made clear the recovery is still at an early stage. Rajakovic kept the update short. In his words, the forward’s “body reacted well to the treatment, and he’s making good progress now. The issue is swelling in the left knee, which has kept Leonard out since late October. The update can be read two ways. Treatment worked well enough to bring Leonard back to the team, which is good news. No court work yet suggests a return is not close.
This is a different joint from the right knee that gave trouble earlier.