- Mar 4, 2024
- Aug 25, 2023
For LA Clippers Kawhi Leonard, things have gone from bad to worse. The player is expected to be out of action for Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns. Amidst all this, Stephen A Smith from ESPN added fuel to the fire by making a huge statement about him. Smith talked about the reason for him issuing such a statement and why he did so on ‘NBA Countdown‘.
Though it was a thunderous call from Smith, his take on the issue concerning Leonard carried a lot of merits. Leonard has only starred in 161 out of the 308 games in the regular season for the Clippers since 2019 when he switched bases and came there. Leonard and Paul George have starred in 118 games. The Clippers at present have an 83-35 record at the moment. The Clippers could have been on the winning side more often than not if their two-star players were not injured.
“In the case of Kawhi Leonard, I stand alone probably on this, but I don’t care,” Smith said. “I think the man should retire. I’m sick of these injuries to Kawhi Leonard. I’m not questioning the legitimacy of any of them, but my God! Him and Paul George have played a grand total of 22.0% of their games together. Smith said.
“You got Kawhi, who is religiously unavailable, okay? Then the flip side to it all is that it doesn’t matter. It’s like it’s not even the injuries that take place before all of us. … I’m just speaking for the city of LA. This is how a lot of people feel.” Smith added. George has already been sidelined out of the first round due to a sprain on his right knee. Leonard also had to go through the same injury that George suffered in Game 1.
Injuries have put the Clippers in the back seat at present. They have not been able to get their hands on a Championship. It has been a rough time for the Clippers as they are desperately trying to make a turnaround and will be hoping for a change of fortunes as the matches progress.