Los Angeles Clippers’ star out indefinitely with right knee inflammation: Report

The Los Angeles Clippers will begin the regular season without their star player.

Kawhi Leonard will miss an indefinite period of time as he deals with inflammation in his right knee, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Leonard is not expected to play when the Clippers begin their regular season with a game against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23.

Leonard and the Clippers are working through a rehabilitation program in an attempt to ensure long-term sustainability and health for the two-time NBA Finals MVP. Leonard has missed the entire preseason and not engaged in any activity involving on-court contact.

The 33-year-old forward has been hobbled by right knee problems since last season. He began experiencing inflammation in the knee in late March, forcing him to miss the final eight games of the regular season. He then missed four of the six games during the Clippers' first-round playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Leonard committed to playing for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics during the summer, but was sent home after a handful of practices.

Leonard suffered a partial tear of the ACL in the knee during the playoffs in 2021 and missed the entire 2021-22 season while recovering. He played in 52 regular-season games in 2022-23 before tearing the right meniscus during the playoffs. He appeared in 68 regular season games last season - his most since 2016-17 season - before knee problems surfaced again.