Kawhi Leonard's knee issues flare up again at worst possible time

"This is finally our year" were the words uttered by many Clippers fans when their team went on a 33-10 run between Nov. 17 and the All-Star break. 

And the fan base had reason to feel optimistic. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were healthy after three injury-riddled years. In January, Leonard put pen to paper on a contract extension ahead of the team's move to a new arena next season. Everything was hunky-dory.

Sadly, the Clippers curse is real and could rear its ugly head yet again. 

Since the All-Star break, the Clippers have gone 12-11 largely due to recurring injuries. Russell Westbrook missed 12 games with a fractured hand, during which Tyronn Lue's squad lost its mojo. 

And now, Leonard's old knee issues have flared up again less than three weeks before the playoffs. "The Claw" missed Tuesday's 109-95 loss to the Kings due to right knee soreness.

According to ESPN, Leonard returned home Monday to receive treatment. And after the loss in Sacramento, coach Lue sounded unsure of his superstar forward's injury status.

Ordinarily, a player missing a game for "knee soreness" isn't a reason to set off alarm bells. But this is Leonard we're talking about — the player who spent 16 months on the sidelines (between June 2021 and Oct. 2022) with an ACL injury only to suffer a torn meniscus in his first postseason back last year. To call Leonard's knees brittle would be rather generous at this point. 

Another obvious red flag is Leonard not staying on the bench with his teammates in Sacramento, and instead returning to Los Angeles to receive treatment. That's a telltale sign that Leonard's knee issue could be more than a nagging injury. It could be serious.  

The Clippers have six games left in the regular season, which include two back-to-backs starting with a home game against the Nuggets on Thursday. 

Even if Leonard suits up for some of those games, his brittle knees will be a topic of conversation when the Clippers start their postseason campaign.