San Antonio Spurs Star Kawhi Leonard Not Expected to Play in Season Opener
It looks like the San Antonio Spurs will have to start the 2017–18 regular season without their best player.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has confirmed that Kawhi Leonard is still dealing with a lingering issue with his right thigh and he's not expected to suit up for the team when they play against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home this Wednesday.
"He won't be available," Popovich said before their preseason finale against the Houston Rockets last Friday, via the San Antonio Express-News. "I don't gauge it. He's still rehabbing and when he's ready, he'll be ready. I try not to qualify it," he added.
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Popovich has previously mentioned that Leonard has been dealing with the injury since last season, and he had to sit out the entire preseason while he continues to recover from right quadriceps tendinopathy. The Spurs still don't have a clear timetable for his return.
"We've seen him in the gym and in rehab, but he hasn't scrimmaged, so it's hard to tell what stage he is in. It's a question mark," Manu Ginobili said after practice on Thursday.
"He looks pretty healthy when I see him work out and stuff. But I don't know what the timetable is," Danny Green stated.
There's no need to panic right now because they are probably just being careful here. The Spurs are clearly more concerned with his long-term health and they don't want to risk further injury this early in the season.
The Spurs will undoubtedly feel his absence when they take on the Timberwolves on Wednesday, but they have the depth to withstand injuries to their key players.
Kyle Anderson should get the start at small forward while Leonard recovers. Rudy Gay's expected to play more power forward with the Spurs this season, but he should see significant minutes at small forward as well.
