The load administration is beginning early.
Kawhi Leonard is not going to play within the Toronto Raptors’ first pre-season recreation in opposition to the Miami Warmth on Saturday and sure received’t play subsequent week in Vancouver in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers, head coach Darko Rajaković instructed reporters.
The Raptors have simply 12 lively gamers for the sport, with projected rotation members Jamison Battle (again), Kyle Anderson (knee) and Allen Graves (groin) additionally sitting out. Nate Bittle, Andre Jackson Jr., Trayce Jackson-Davis, Alijah Martin and Trey Jemison additionally didn’t costume for the competition.
Toronto began Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley and Ja’Kobe Walter.
The Miami Warmth could have all of their regulars, together with low season additions Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson, Grange added.
Leonard was acquired by way of a blockbuster commerce first reported early within the low season. Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round swap and two second-round picks had been despatched to the Clippers in return.
The 35-year-old ahead is coming off a season the place he posted profession highs with 27.9 factors per recreation on 62.9 per cent true capturing, additionally including 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals over 65 video games.
That efficiency earned Leonard a seventh-place end in MVP voting and choices to the All-Star Sport and All-NBA second crew.
Leonard and Raptors vp of well being and efficiency Alex Mckechnie helped popularize the time period “load administration” through the famous person’s first season with the Raptors in 2018-19.
The Los Angeles, Calif. native was coming off a season the place he performed solely 9 video games with the San Antonio Spurs and famously by no means performed in back-to-back video games earlier than making a protracted playoff run and in the end profitable the NBA Championship.
Leonard has averaged solely 57 video games per season over the course of his profession and missed your complete 2021-22 season because of a torn proper ACL. Nonetheless, he mentioned he needs to play much more after crossing the NBA’s 65-game threshold for award eligibility final season.
“I performed 65 (video games) final 12 months,” Leonard mentioned to reporters at Raptors media day. “Hopefully this 12 months I can play extra and even construct on that, including video games within the playoffs.”
