“Don’t look at him to be my savior”- Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard gets brutally honest about Paul George’s departure

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is focused on returning to full fitness before the start of the new season. The 33-year-old forward addressed the media at the team’s 2024 NBA Media Day on Wednesday and gave an optimistic update on his recovery. During the event, Leonard was also asked about the impact losing Paul George would have on him, but the forward offered a straightforward response.

“Obviously he made things easier on the court for players. But as far as my mental focus going into a game, I don’t feel like it’s gonna be harder for me personally”, Kawhi Leonard said.

“For anybody, I’m on the court with, I don’t look at him to be my savior,” the 33-year-old added.

Kawhi Leonard on Clippers losing Paul George: “I don’t feel like it’s going to be harder for me personally. For anybody I’m on the court with, I don’t look at him to be my savior.” pic.twitter.com/lNouVoNehA
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 30, 2024

Notably, George called his time with the Clippers and signed a four-year, $212 million deal in free agency with the Philadelphia 76ers in July.

Also Read: LeBron James high school jersey sells for a whopping $1.3 million at auction

Will Kawhi Leonard play in Clipper’s season-opening game?

When asked about his expected return on the court, the 2-time MVP winner said they’re taking things “day-by-day,” and he is optimistic about his availability for the opening night.

“Yeah, that’s the plan. It’s just about my body. I’m a human being and we’re playing basketball. So, it all depends on what we want and what we figure out and how my body’s feeling. But, we’re taking it day by day”, Leonard said.

Leonard played 68 games last season for the Clippers before a knee injury abruptly halted his postseason availability.

Earlier, Clippers President of Basketball Operations, Lawrence Frank, confirmed that the management has decided to hold Leonard out for drill to preserve the longevity of the player’s career.

The Clippers will start their season campaign on October 23 against the Phoenix Suns.

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Kawhi Leonard

Paul George

Swati Bhatia

nba

mlb

wnba

I work as a content strategist, specializing in creating engaging content about the NBA, WNBA, and MLB. My main focus is on writing breaking news updates, research-based articles, and covering trending topics. Right now, I’m leading the content team for the NBA, WNBA, and MLB categories at Playoffs English.