Kawhi Leonard is in no rush to wipe out minutes

Cutting machines forward Kawhi Leonardwho made his season debut on Jan. 4 after spending most of the first half working his way back from an offseason knee procedure, has yet to play more than 21 minutes in any of his first three outings this season.

Seam Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints writes head coach Tyronn Lue and the Clippers have not confirmed exactly what Leonard’s minutes restriction is or when it might be lifted. But the two-time Finals MVP is in no rush to get out of that restriction, telling reporters Monday night that he doesn’t want to risk a backlash by speeding up the process.

“No, I take my time” Leonard said when asked if he is eager to play more. “I’ve done it in the past and it led to me being on the bench, I feel good where I am.”

The Clippers and Leonard have said they’re treating this stretch of games like it’s the preseason for the star forward, Azarly notes. This means that in addition to being on a strict minutes limit, Leonard is not playing in clutch time at all. He has yet to register a single minute in the fourth quarter of any of his first three games back.

The six-time All-Star hasn’t looked like his usual self either, averaging just 8.7 points per game. game on 32.3% shooting so far.

“He’s looked better in practice than (in the game),” Lue said, according to Azarly. “I think in the game he’s just trying to feel his way through, I think, when you come off such a long layoff. I’ve been a product of that, having surgery, coming off a long layoff, you just want make sure you can play and that you’re not feeling it. I think that’s what he’s done the last couple of games. He’s just got to a point where he trusts the one where he can go all out without having to think about it, and that is going to take some time.”

The Clippers’ priority is to make sure Leonard is available in April. As Azarly points out, the 33-year-old has not been fit at the end of any of the past four seasons, so he and the club are willing to take things as slowly as they need to in order to maximize the chances of that he is good for the postseason.

Listed by James Harden, Norman Powelland Ivica ZubacLA has performed well without Leonard so far this season. When the team goes into Tuesday’s games, the team is no. 6 seed in the West with a 21-17 record.

“They have played well all season,” Leonard said. “Hopefully we can get some wins under our belt and move up in the standings, secure a playoff spot. That’s what we’re working towards.”

Leonard will be available on Wednesday vs. Brooklyn for the first game of a back-to-back set, tweets Law Murray of The Athletic.