Kawhi Leonard Doesn’t Fall Under Resting Policy, NBA Confirms

The NBA has clarified the situation regarding Kawhi Leonard that lead to the Los Angeles Clippers recieving a fine.

The Clippers were hit with a $50,000 fine for describing the status of Kawhi Leonard as ‘load management’. The issue, according to an NBA memo, is that Leonard is injured. As a result, he does not fall under the league’s resting policy. The NBA does not want Los Angeles falsely using ‘load management’ as a reason to bench him for games.

It’s a flip-flop from the NBA since last week, when it appeared that the league and the Clippers were on the same page.

In his first season with the Clippers, Leonard has played seven of their nine games. He is yet to play in games on consecutive days.

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Due to an ongoing patella tendon issue in his left knee, Leonard didn’t appear in consecutive games for the Raptors last season, either.

USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt Tweeted key parts of the memo.

“Load management” (or a similar phrase such as “return from” an injury) is a permissible description only in connection with a healthy player who misses a game due to rest that is permissible under the Resting Policy.

“In essence, league doesn’t want Clippers using ‘load management’ as a reason for sitting Kawhi Leonard in games since Clippers have determined and told NBA that Leonard is suffering from an ongoing injury to the patella tendon in his left knee.”

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The term ‘load management’ is even less credible when you look at Leonard’s injury record over recent years. He actually hasn’t played in consecutive games since he played for the San Antonio Spurs in 2016 – 2017.

The Clippers have 13 back-to-back games this season. Leonard’s involvement will reportedly be decided on a “to-be-determined basis”.