Five NBA stars who are poised to return from injuries in the 2022-23 season

Championship expectations have nothing on Kawhi Leonard

Let’s face it—Kawhi Leonard would be in a very different conversation if he played 20% more of the games he’s been eligible for. One of the greatest two-way talents in league history, Leonard elevates his game in the most crucial situations and never backs down from a challenge. But as the poster child of load management, it’s safe to say Kawhi won’t be the type of player who battles through all 82 games plus the playoffs.

Through 109 games with the Los Angeles Clippers, Kawhi has taken a larger offensive workload, scoring 26 points per game with back-to-back seasons of career-highs in assists. Whether he’s driving, spotting up, creating his shot, or capitalizing on a pass, Leonard has grown into one of the most well-rounded scorers in basketball.

Nonetheless, LA has developed one of the deepest rosters in basketball so that Leonard doesn’t have to be a one-man-army. It’s plausible to see his scoring average dip just a bit as he reacclimates to game pace and refocuses on his calling card: Perimeter defense. Still, it’d be completely unsurprising to see him hit 25 points per game again based on his sheer willpower.

Leonard’s ascendence was somewhat surprising to parts of the NBA community as he rose to Finals MVP status in 2014. From there, he became a consistent All-NBA threat, Defensive Player of the Year candidate and generally one of the most feared competitors this game has to offer. His Finals run in Toronto was truly spectacular—largely because it was the longshot that worked out.

By this stage of his career, Finals contention is no longer a hope, but an expectation. The Clippers have done everything they can to accommodate Kawhi and build a championship team around him.

Now, it’s up to Kawhi, head coach Ty Lue and his teammates to develop the cohesion required to snatch the Larry O’Brien trophy.