Los Angeles Clippers are not in great form this season. They have lost 7 of their last 10 games and are currently .487 this season. It’s fair to say they are missing their star player, Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi is out injured due to a torn ACL he suffered last season against Utah Jazz in the playoffs.

Kawhi Leonard went through an ACL surgery in July 2021. However, not much clarity is available on his return as he continues to sit out. But recently, several reports have indicated that ‘the Claw’ could make his return soon and is ahead of schedule in his rehab.

The Athletic is publishing a list of the top 75 NBA players and they have ranked Kawhi 34th. They release a new player on the list every weekday and will continue to do so till 18th February. Kawhi played an important role at the Clippers last season as they reached the Conference Finals for the first time ever. He recently lavished praise on his former teammates and coach at the Spurs.

Kawhi Leonard lavishes praise on his former team and Gregg Popovich

The Athletic have ranked Kawhi as the 34th best player on their list. They also published Kawhi’s interview, where he talked about the impact of Tim Duncan, Gregg Popovich, and other former teammates at San Antonio Spurs.

“I’ve always been a guy that won and wanted to win,” Leonard said.

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“But being around Gregg Popovich and those guys, they showed me how to win in the NBA, I guess I would say, with me having no experience. But it’s good and bad that come with that. I was a guy looking at trying to be, you know, having 20 (points per game) my first year. Getting the ball or just being more involved. You know, so it’s kind of, what do you call it …  kind of like lowering my pride a little bit. So we can make something, a bigger accomplishment.”

Kawhi is a two-time NBA champion. He won his first with San Antonio Spurs and the second with Toronto Raptors. In fact, in both of these finals, he was named the Finals MVP. After joining the Clippers in 2019, he had an instant impact as he took the Clippers to the Conference Semis and then in Conference finals next season.

REPORTS: Is Kawhi Leonard Set For Early Clippers Return?

Although Kawhi’s 2021-22 season has been cut short due to injuries, he has been working hard and is ahead of his schedule in his rehab. If the Clippers manage to maintain their playoff position till Kawhi’s return, they have the ability to beat some of the top teams in their conference.