Jeff McDonald: Gregg Popovich explained more about shutting down Kawhi Leonard: “He didn’t re-injure it. He was having pain, not right after the game, but the next day at noon or that kind of thing. The pain wasn’t dissipating. It wasn’t going in the right the direction. It was going the other way.”
More on Kawhi Leonard Injury
Kawhi Leonard's maddening season took another turn Wednesday afternoon when the San Antonio Spurs announced he would be out for an indefinite period as he "continues his rehabilitation process from right quadriceps tendinopathy." "Kawhi has made significant progress and continues to move forward in his rehabilitation," said Spurs GM RC Buford. "This is the best approach for the next steps in his return to play."
Paul Garcia: The Spurs have announced Kawhi Leonard (return from injury management) is OUT today at Atlanta. So is Rudy Gay (heel).
Jeff McDonald: Pop says Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Danny Green are expected to play tonight against Denver, unless something goes awry with warm-ups.
Tom Orsborn: Pop on whether Kawhi Leonard's shoulder injury still looks short term rather than long term: "When he's back, he's back." For what it's worth, Leonard participated in shootaround and was on the court working out before the game. #Spurs
Tom Orsborn: #Spurs have downgraded Tony Parker (sprained right ankle) from doubtful to out for tonight's game vs. Lakers. Danny Green (tightness, left groin) is also out after being downgraded from questionable. Kawhi Leonard (left shoulder strain) and Rudy Gay (right heel bursitis) were ruled out Wednesday.
Tom Orsborn: Leonard (shoulder) has been ruled out for tomorrow vs. Lakers, #Spurs say. It will be his 3rd straight game missed w/ that injury. Also, Parker (sprained right ankle) is doubtful, Gay (heel) is out and Green (groin) is questionable).
Tom Orsborn: Asked if Leonard is looking better for Friday's game vs. Lakers, Pop said, "We'll see," and then reiterated the shoulder injury is a "tough break" for Kawhi given that he was starting to return to form. #Spurs
The Spurs do not have a timeline for Leonard's return, but Popovich did not rule him out for Monday's game at Sacramento. The Spurs conclude their three-game West Coast trip on Friday night in Los Angeles for a game with the Lakers. "I don't think it will be a while," Popovich said when asked how long he thought Leonard would be out.
Michael C. Wright: Even though Kawhi Leonard has a partial terse in his shoulder, the team at this point doesn't think it's serious. Team will continue to monitor it over these next few days. He has not yet been ruled out for Thursday in LA against the Lakers.
Tom Orsborn: Pop said Leonard suffered a partial tear in his left shoulder Friday night against Phoenix: "It’s too bad. He was starting to get back into form a little bit after playing a couple of games." #Spurs
Tom Orsborn: Pop didn't rule out Leonard playing at some point during this three-game West Coast trip, which continues tomorrow night in Sacramento and ends Thursday night against the Lakers in L.A.: "I don’t know. It depends on how his shoulder goes." #Spurs
Al Iannazzone: Kawhi Leonard playing tonight for Spurs.
Tom Osborn: A happy - but still stone-faced - Kawhi on his return: “I’m just happy to be out there, just to play the game and enjoy the things I missed (even)missing shots, losing games, making mistakes, just everything. I missed everything on the court and I’m just glad I was able to play.”
Michael C. Wright: Kawhi Leonard will start per Pop.
Tom Orsborn: Carlisle on Leonard returning vs. his Mavs: "We're going to try our best to keep him from getting in his rhythm, but it's hard. He's great and he's going to be a perennial MVP candidate." #Spurs
Michael C. Wright: Pop just now: "Kawhi is back." He'll be on a minutes restriction. espn.com/espn/now?nowId…
Tom Orsborn: This quote from Manu kind of sums up the entire Leonard affair: "“It was never expected we would play 20-plus games without him. It was not in our heads. It was expected with Tony, but (not Leonard).” #Spurs
Tom Orsborn: In the strongest signal yet that Kawhi Leonard will make his return Tuesday night in Dallas, the just-released Spurs injury report lists him as PROBABLE for the game. Same for Danny Green, who missed the Phoenix game Saturday with a groin injury. #Spurs
Kyle Anderson (left MCL sprain), Pau Gasol (rest), Manu Ginobili (rest), Kawhi Leonard (right quadriceps tendinopathy) and Tony Parker (return from injury management) are out for Saturday's game at Phoenix. Danny Green (tightness, left groin) is questionable.
RJ Marquez: #Spurs injury report for tonight's game at #Suns Like Manu Ginobili said last night in the locker room, about 5-6 guys would not make the trip. No Kawhi tonight, would make sense to bring him back with full group at Dallas on Tuesday #KSATnews #KSATsports pic.twitter.com/Rdqe9Jua5N
Despite the absence of injured star player Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs' ratings for games telecast by FOX Sports Southwest are up substantially over where they stood at this point last season, a spokesperson for the regional network told the Express-News on Friday. The Spurs enjoyed a 6.41 average household rating through 21 games, said Mary Hyink, director of marketing and communication for FOX Sports Southwest.
A sense of excitement and relief filled the Spurs practice facility Friday morning as the team prepared for the return of injured franchise player Kawhi Leonard. The Express-News reported Thursday that if Leonard passes some final benchmarks in his rehab, he could return as soon as Saturday on the road against Phoenix. "We are all excited that day is approaching," Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. "As I thought before and I still think, it is going to take a little bit of an adjustment to see how (Leonard) is doing, to wait until he gets into his rhythm and to re-balance the team," Ginobili said. "I don't know how long it is going to take. But for sure we need him if we want to have hopes of being the last team standing."
The Spurs are no strangers this season to integrating injured players back into the mix. Point guard Tony Parker missed the first 19 games after tearing his left quadriceps tendon in the playoffs last May. "I think being just through it with Tony guys will be somewhat prepared," point guard Patty Mills said. "But (Kawhi Leonard) is one of those guys with big shoes to fill. It will be an adjustment."
The wait for Kawhi Leonard’s return may finally be coming to an end. League sources tell the Express-News Leonard could make his season debut for the Spurs on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns barring any setbacks. According to sources, Leonard participate in a final workout session Thursday. The team will re-evaluate Leonard on Friday. If all goes well, and Leonard feels OK, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year will travel with the team to Phoenix after Friday’s game against Boston to play in the second game of a back-to-back.
Tom Orsborn: Leonard remains out, according to Spurs injury report for Wednesday vs. Miami. Gay (heel), Lauvergne (finger) are probable. Anderson (knee) also out for likely for next two weeks.
Paul Garcia: Kawhi, do you have a target game to return? "No, just whenever." Kawhi said it's all about how his body reacts after each workout in the rehab process.
Tom Orsborn: Van Gundy on Pop's coaching job without Kawhi: "They’ve got a guy who is arguably the best coach ever in our league in terms of success over the long term, so he has done a tremendous job making adjustments. There is nothing really surprising about what they have done."
RJ Marquez: Popovich on Kawhi Leonard imminent return: "It's really much sooner now" Says he understands why he keeps getting questions about Leonard and Kawhi wants to play, he wants to see him back on court #KSATsports #KSATnews #Spurs
Jabari Young: Kawhi on the court working out in OKC... #Spurs
Jeff McDonald: Asked Pop is there's any chance Leonard plays Sunday in OKC. He didn't say no: “We’re just talking about tonight.” ... Still think it makes more sense to bring him back at home. That usually Pop's m.o.
Sooner rather than later appears to be coming soon. All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard accompanied the Spurs on their two-game road swing that opens tonight in Memphis. He is on the road to complete what coach Gregg Popovich calls “the last steps” in a months-long rehabilitation from a quadriceps injury.
Leonard has played two sessions of 5-on-5, going both halfcourt and full. At shootaround this morning at the FedEx Forum, Leonard practiced with the full team for the first time, Popovich said. “Those are the last steps,” Popovich said. “That’s what Tony (Parker) did before he came back.”
“[Kawhi Leonard is] starting to feel in a little bit better shape and feeling more confident,” Popovich said. Once Leonard feels well enough to play, the final hurdle will be in lobbying his coach. It took Parker two weeks from the time he felt good enough to go for Popovich to put him on the floor. “When he says, ‘I feel I can go,’ then he’s got to convince me,” Popovich said. “Because I’m going to err on the conservative side. We’ll see. He’s too valuable to bring back early.”
Tom Orsborn: Rudy Gay (sore right heel) has been upgraded to probable for Wednesday's game vs. Memphis after he sat out Monday's win over Dallas, per #Spurs injury report. Kawhi Leonard (right quadriceps tendinopathy) and Derrick White (right wrist fracture) remain out.
Tom Orsborn: Pop with some seemingly good news about Leonard: "He’s getting very close (to playing 5-on-5) and making progress. He’s having contact now and hopefully we will get him back shortly." #Spurs
Michael C. Wright: Pop said he's "probably not gonna consult" with Tony Parker about when Kawhi Leonard will return. Pop did say Kawhi is "very close" and participating in "contact" work.
Parker worked out with Leonard during his rehabilitation process from a torn quadriceps tendon, and said the two-time All-Star is "close" to returning to normal as he recovers from quadriceps tendinopathy. Parker estimated Leonard would return to action "in a couple weeks, three weeks."
"He looked great," Parker said of Leonard. "I was like, 'Oh, he's good. I forgot that he was that good.' Yeah, [he's] close. It's still going to be a process. Still, the Spurs aren't going to take [any] risks. It's still going to be, like I said, a couple of weeks, three weeks. They're not going to take any risks. But he's looking good so far. What he did with me, he's looking good."
Jabari Young: Though Popovich will have the final word, Parker said he could see Kawhi back in about 3 weeks. Asked him how Kawhi looked while practicing with him #Spurs pic.twitter.com/BUVqAEhCdk
Tom Orsborn: Asked about Leonard's status, Ginobili noted that Kawhi is "working hard" but that his injury has been more "rebellious" than Parker's. #Spurs
The Spurs list Kawhi Leonard, who hasn’t played yet this season because of right quadriceps tendinopathy. With the Spurs’ 106-86 win over the Hornets on Saturday night, Leonard has sat out all 19 games this season, one more than he missed the previous two regular seasons combined. Leonard has been sidelined since just before the start of the preseason with what the Spurs are calling right quadriceps tendinopathy. The ailment first showed up last season and has resulted in what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has termed a “difficult” rehabilitation for the two-time All-Star and two-time defensive player of the year. “They are perplexed by how long it’s taken him to get better,” a source said of the Spurs.
Tom Orsborn: Same old same old for #Spurs injury report vs. Hornets: Leonard, Parker, White remain out.
Leonard needs to advance through a rehabilitation process that comprises several steps, including individual work followed by 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 drills, before he can get full clearance to return to the court. According to sources, Leonard is currently engaged in on-court work but hasn't yet advanced far enough to receive clearance to return. The club is reluctant to offer a specific timeline for Leonard's return because there's a level of unpredictability involved with rehabilitation from quadriceps tendinopathy, a source said.
In a storied career spanning more than 40 years at various levels, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he has "never" encountered the quadriceps issue that has kept Kawhi Leonard out of the lineup this entire season. "Never, never," Popovich said when asked whether he has seen such a condition hampering one of his players. "What's really strange is that [point guard] Tony [Parker] has the same injury, but even worse. They had to go operate on his quad tendon and put it back together or whatever they did to it. So to have two guys, that's pretty incredible. I had never seen it before those guys."
Pop just told me he's "never" throughout his entire coaching career come across the issue that Kawhi Leonard is experiencing with his quad. He said "what's weird" is that Tony Parker has essentially the same issue, "a quad tendon, but worse," but Kawhi isn't any closer to returning than TP
Fans should be “cautiously optimistic” Spurs franchise player Kawhi Leonard will return to the court sooner rather than later, as coach Gregg Popovich recently put it, provided his lingering condition hasn’t been diagnosed as chronic, an expert with the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City said Tuesday. “I think he’s going to be fine if they are truly saying what is wrong with him,” said Sabrina Strickland, an orthopedic sports surgeon who has been in practice more than 20 years. “Usually, it’s just a matter of doing the appropriate type of treatment to get better tissue in that area.”
A Spurs spokesman said Tuesday in a text message there still is “no timeline at this point” for Leonard’s return. Leonard has been sidelined since just before the start of the preseason with what the Spurs say is right quadriceps tendinopathy, a condition that can cause the tendon to tire from overuse.
“Typically, with rest and physical therapy, they get over it and get back (in action) pretty quickly,” Strickland said. “But with ones that are more chronic, that’s when players tend to have more aggressive treatment, something more evasive than just the rest-and- rehab route, such as platelet rich plasma (therapy), and that can slow them down for a while because you have to allow some time for that to work.” Strickland said, given how long Leonard has been out, that could be the case with him. The Spurs haven’t made Leonard available to the media since the start of training camp.
Tom Orsborn: The usual suspects on the #Spurs injury report for Friday's game with the Bucks: Lauvergne (ankle), Leonard (quad), Parker (quad) and White (wrist).
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich provided an update Tuesday on Kawhi Leonard, who has missed 10 games due to right quadriceps tendinopathy, saying the two-time All-Star forward is "just coming along more slowly" than expected in rehabilitation. "It's just been more difficult for him to get through the rehab routine," Popovich said.
"His body hasn't reacted the same way as Tony's," Popovich said of Leonard. "Tony's at the point where he's been going 5-on-5 and that kind of thing. He's not totally confident. It'll be a few more weeks. But he's definitely going the right direction. And so is Kawhi. It's just taking a little bit longer.
Mike Finger: After listening to Pop, safe to assume Kawhi won’t be returning in the next game or two. Has to build back up same way Parker is now.
Tom Orsborn: Pop on Kawhi's slow progress: "He’s just coming along more slowly, for whatever reason. It’s just been more difficult for him to get through the rehab routine. His body hasn’t reacted the same way."
Manu Ginobili sees a silver lining in the Spurs being forced to play without star forward Kawhi Leonard. The Spurs are 6-4 without Leonard (right quadriceps tendinopathy) heading into Tuesday night’s home game against the Clippers (5-4). “Every time a team has to adjust to playing without its main player, others have to step up and gain confidence, and they end up being better players,” Ginobili said after shootaround Tuesday morning. “I think it is a great thing for guys like Bryn (Forbes), Brandon (Paul), even Kyle (Anderson), because they are having to be more responsible offensively, have more possessions, make more decisions. I think it is going end up being a great thing for the team long term. Short term, we miss him. We need him out there. When he comes back, we are going to have to re-adjust. So it’s going to take a little bit of time. But at this point, it’s making those guys step up and play a bigger role.”
Tom Orsborn: #Spurs rule Lauvergne (ankle), Leonard (quad), Parker (quad) and White (wrist) out for Tuesday's game vs. Clippers.
Paul Garcia: The Spurs announced Joffrey Lauvergne, Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker are all out for Sunday's game vs Phoenix with injuries.
Tom Orsborn: TNT reporting Pop is "hopeful" Kawhi could return within next 3 weeks.
When asked if Kawhi Leonard is getting closer to returning to practicing with the team since he’s out with right quadriceps tendinopathy, Popovich didn’t provide many details. “Absolutely,” said Popovich of Leonard getting closer to practicing. “You want a percentage? You want a percentage for each day closer?”
Tom Orsborn: Pop hasn't ruled out a November return. twitter.com/Enigma1800/sta…
Jeff McDonald: Leonard, Parker and Lauvergne all out for tomorrow's afternoon tilt in Indy. No surprises to the injury report.
Paul Garcia: The Spurs just announced Lauvergne, Kawhi and Parker will be out vs the Magic Friday. They did not travel with the team to Orlando.
RJ Marquez: #Spurs announce Lauvergne (sprained ankle) out for game at Miami. Kawhi still OUT (quad injury). Did not travel w/team #KSATnews #KSATsports
Jeff McDonald: Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker traveled with the Spurs to Chicago, but not expected to play tomorrow vs. Bulls. Out with injury.
Larry Ramirez: Kawhi Leonard boarding the #Spurs charter flight for Chicago. #KSATsports #KSATnews
All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard is not expected to play in Wednesday’s season opener against Minnesota at the AT&T Center, coach Gregg Popovich said Friday. “He won’t be available,” Popovich said before the Spurs’ preseason finale against Houston.
Popovich said there remains no timetable for Leonard’s return, even beyond Wednesday’s opener. “I don’t gauge it,” Popovich said. “He’s still rehabbing and when he’s ready, he’ll be ready. I try not to qualify it.”
Paul Garcia: The Spurs also just announced Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker are both out for Friday's preseason finale at Houston due to injury.
"For sure, it's not I'm saying we should hurry things up," Ginobili said. "We all wish to be healthy all the time, and it doesn't happen like that. So, not having [Leonard] and Tony, it's important, or Rudy. Rudy is practicing. He's almost ready. But he's still cautious, and he's been out for seven months. So he's going to take his time, too."
Leonard didn’t participate in Saturday’s Silver & Black scrimmage at the AT&T Center. Afterward, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich revealed Leonard’s injury is left over from last season and that he has been rehabbing it all summer. “It’s gone a little more slowly than we thought,” Popovich said.
With Leonard out after one week of training camp, the Spurs will start the preseason without two starters. Point guard Tony Parker is also sidelined while continuing to recover from surgery to repair the ruptured left quadriceps tendon he suffered in the Western Conference semifinals against Houston last spring. “Rehab buddies,” Popovich called Leonard and Parker.
