Kawhi Leonard was at the Los Angeles Clippers facility on Monday. It wasn’t really a surprise, but what was surprising was that he was finally wearing his gamer clothes.
Welcome back Kawhi. And the same can be said of Jamal Murray, with the Denver Nuggets, Ben Simmons, with the Brooklyn Nets, Zion Williamson, with the New Orleans Pelicans, John Wall, with the Clippers, and many other players in the NBA.
As camps get underway in the NBA, they mark the long-awaited returns of some of the league’s best players, who didn’t play last season due to injury or other issues.
“I’m lucky to be healthy, to be able to climb the stairs without thinking about it,” said Murray, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in April 2021. I’ve come a long way. »
He is not the only one.
Leonard tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in a playoff game with the Clippers in June 2021. Williamson missed all of last season with a foot injury. Wall didn’t play because he wasn’t in the Houston Rockets’ rebuilding plans, but he revealed his battle with multiple injuries has affected his mental health. In the case of Simmons, who didn’t play with the Philadelphia 76ers and Nets after the trade because he struggled with mental health issues.
They are now back, excited for the start of a new season. Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player winner, said he would attend the camp and hoped to start the season without restrictions.
“I’ve been trying to be better for 14 months and trying to keep my focus on my whole body,” Leonard said. I’m packed. I’m exhausted from going through these rehab workouts and listening to the doctors and healers. Although I still have to. »
Williamson, a true force of nature when healthy, said he felt great, moved faster and jumped higher. Physically, he is back to his best.
“I’ve never had a break like this,” said Williamson, who hasn’t played in the NBA since May 4, 2021. “It’s been a long time since I played a game, but my level excitement is at its maximum. I’m just ready to be back on the pitch. »
Leonard, Wall, Williamson and Murray are among the list of players who have been inactive for all of their team’s 82 games this season. For James Wiseman of the Golden State Warriors, who suffered a knee injury, it was even more. He missed 82 season games and 22 more in the playoffs on his training journey to the NBA title.
Wiseman also sought mental help to help him deal with the inability to play.
“It’s been tough for me, mostly because I love basketball so much,” Wiseman said. I want to be on the field with my team. I have this resilience to carry on. It’s in my DNA and I’m not going to give up no matter how difficult the situation. »
Simmons had to deal with a disastrous playoff performance with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021 and then the belief that he didn’t want to play last season. He hinted he was in a better mental place and he should eventually play for the Nets.
“Everyone has dark days,” Simmons insisted. You are able to resolve the situation and work to get to a place where you need to be mentally. I got there. For me, it’s about working on myself every day.
