Kawhi Leonard: ‘I’m here to be a Clipper’

PLAYA VISTA — To perceive Serge Ibaka archer it Monday astatine Clippers’ media day, determination was ne'er truly immoderate uncertainty that his pal Kawhi Leonard would re-sign with the Clippers aft opting retired of his erstwhile woody past offseason: “I already know.”

On Aug. 12, Leonard signed a four-year, $176.3 cardinal declaration with a subordinate enactment to instrumentality to the team, which remains successful pursuit of its archetypal title aft reaching the Western Conference finals for the archetypal clip successful franchise past past June.

On Monday astatine the Clippers’ grooming facility, the Clippers’ prima guardant spoke publically for the archetypal clip astir his determination to re-sign and however the torn close anterior cruciate ligament that helium suffered successful the 2nd circular of the playoffs factored into that deal, which differed from immoderate much expected routes.

Other possibilities could person included a two-year, $80.6 cardinal woody with a second-year subordinate enactment oregon a five-year woody with the Clippers worthy astir $235 cardinal adjacent summer.

“I wanted to play,” said Leonard, who had country connected his genu connected July 13. “I mean, the champion concern for maine to maine was to bash it one-and-one and past opt retired and motion a semipermanent five-year deal, but there’s a batch of concerns that that brings up for you guys and your occupation (in the media) and it creates storylines that I’m going to permission the team.

“One thing, I wanted to unafraid immoderate money. And I wanted to beryllium capable to travel backmost if I was capable to this year. If I would person took the one-and-one, I astir apt would person not played conscionable to beryllium cautious and opted retired and took a five-year.”

Added Leonard, a five-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP: “I’m here. I’m present to beryllium a Clipper. I’m not going to different squad unless thing drastic happens, but I’m present for the agelong run.”

The Moreno Valley autochthonal said he’s been blessed his acquisition successful his archetypal 2 seasons with the organization.

“I mean, I made my determination based connected astatine first, obviously, family, being person to my family, being successful the authorities of California,” said Leonard, who sent shockwaves done the NBA by choosing to motion with the Clippers successful 2019 aft winning a rubric with Toronto.

“Once I got here, I learned who works here, who was successful the beforehand office, and conscionable benignant of gathering chemistry with the unit and radical successful the beforehand office,” Leonard said. “A large portion of it was conscionable winning; cognize what I mean? They privation to win, I privation to win, and I’m home. I’m comfy with the guys connected my team, and I conscionable felt similar it was a bully concern still.”

Despite Leonard’s tendency to instrumentality to action, the Clippers person made it wide they’re not putting a timetable connected their champion player’s return.

“I anticipation helium comes backmost Oct. 21, but the world is he’s not going to beryllium acceptable then,” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “We don’t privation to unit him oregon enactment immoderate unit connected him. We privation to marque definite he’s rehabbing, doing everything helium tin to get backmost arsenic soon arsenic possible, and if that’s adjacent season, that’s adjacent season.”

Leonard besides avoided offering an estimated clip of return, but helium made it wide that he’s doing immoderate helium tin bash to travel back.

“Just trying to get steadfast is what’s next, the aforesaid worldly you usually bash for a circumstantial injury,” helium said. “Work connected it, assistance weights, marque definite you don’t compensate, and you’re beardown and stable. Just support pursuing that path; that’s each I tin do. Just instrumentality it 1 time astatine a time.

“… Just moving with the unit day-to-day, and past erstwhile that disposable day comes, we’ll beryllium acceptable for it, and it’ll beryllium retired successful the public.

“It’s precise challenging,” helium added. “Since being injured and not truly feeling similar I was injured. That’s the situation of it, conscionable seeing however rapidly I tin get amended and however overmuch stronger I tin get than what I was erstwhile I’m healthy. That’s wherever I beauteous overmuch crook my mindset to. Now conscionable watching games arsenic a coach, being successful the coaches’ meetings and trying to marque myself arsenic applicable arsenic possible.”

The Clippers extremity disconnected grooming campy Tuesday astatine San Diego State, wherever Leonard played his assemblage basketball.

More to travel connected this story.

Home is wherever the bosom is.

Let's support building, @kawhileonard. pic.twitter.com/Xu4aLTvEOj

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 12, 2021