Perhaps the most perplexing and drawn-out saga of this entire NBA season has been the quad injury Kawhi Leonard has battled through. Despite varying reports as to whether or not he will be available to return sometime this season, the chances of that happening remain slim.
Leonard’s teammate and future Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili says he already believes that the forward won’t make a return sometime this season. Following from ESPN’s Michael C. Wright:
“He is not coming back,” veteran guard Manu Ginobili said. “For me, he’s not coming back because it’s not helping [to think Leonard is returning]. We fell for it a week ago again. I guess you guys made us fall for it. But we have to think that he’s not coming back, that we are who we are, and that we got to fight without him. That shouldn’t be changing, at least until he is ready for the jump ball.”
Though it may seem like a bleak outlook, the Spurs are just facing reality. With Leonard on the shelf almost all season, the odds of him returning now seem almost slim to none, and Manu Ginobili knows this.
Fellow reserve guard Patty Mills felt the same way regarding Leonard’s injury, stating that the team needs to lock in and prepare for a hopeful playoff run.
“Nothing has changed,” Spurs guard Patty Mills said. “We obviously hope to get him back, and he’s told us that he has taken control of what he can control rehab-wise and injury-prevention-wise. But for us, it’s about focusing on what we can on the court. Because like we’ve said before: We’ve got to move on. We’re at a very important part of the season, and we need to attack this part of the season with everything we have and not have anything else weighing on us.”
The Spurs have been doing just that as they have started to look energized with their season playoff streak on the line. San Antonio has reeled off four consecutive victories as they approach a pivotal stretch run.
