It’s been a season of frustration for Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard, from the short-lived January return, to Leonard’s body not feeling right, to his coach thinking that his best all around player won’t be returning this season.
It appears the worst might be behind Leonard as he’s returned to the team after spending three weeks in New York rehabbing the injured quad that’s sidelined him for all but nine games so far. Even better is the news that there appears to be a plan in place for Leonard’s return to the court this season.
According to a new report, the Spurs are cautiously planning for Kawhi return within the first two weeks of March, specifically around March 8, which is a date with the Golden State Warriors. But for Spurs players, all the talk of a potential Leonard return was muted by the fact they simply appreciated having him back in the facility.
Via Jeff McDonald of the the San Antonio Express News:
“It’s always good to see his face,” guard Danny Green said Tuesday. “He said he’ll be back, so we knew he was going to be back eventually at some point — playing-wise, not just being around. If he’s that confident mentally, I know he’s going to get the work done to get it done physically.”
Now, it’d be wise to remember that Kawhi has yet to participate in team drills, whether it be 3-on-3 or 5-on-5. These plans are always in the embryonic stages, and with muscle pulls, anything can happen. But the mere fact that Kawhi is back in the fold can only bring comfort to not only the coaching staff but also the front office, considering their reported rift.
However, if Kawhi does in fact return at some point in March, the Western Conference Playoffs get that much more interesting as the Spurs and the Timberwolves are separated by a half game for the No. 3 seed. If the Spurs can continue winning while Kawhi gets what amounts to an extended pre-season during the last 20 plus games, it could make that second-round date with either the Rockets or Warriors that much more interesting.
