Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George missed a lot of time due to injuries while teammates in Los Angeles, and it made sense for the league to schedule their head-to-head battles early in the season in hopes they’d both be available.

The prolonged uncertainty surrounding Leonard’s status has left Clippers fans frustrated, as the team has provided little clarity on when he might take the court this season. Leonard’s injury issues trace back to July 2024 when he withdrew from Team USA, citing “chronic knee soreness and inflammation for months,” as reported by The Athletic.