Kawhi Leonard is Back!

Kawhi Leonard has dealt with a career-changing injury for the past six years. A quad injury during the playoffs against the Warriors has altered his career, and he now has to sit out games. It worked well for him during his sole Raptors year, where he won a title and Finals MVP award. But since entering the Clippers, his condition has gotten worse. He either misses a huge chunk of the regular season or the playoffs altogether. Fans worry that, after five years in LA, Kawhi's leg injuries will affect his performance. But his season debut against the Hawks was incredible. He scored 12 points on 3-5 shooting from three. The Clippers won, showing flashes of the old Kawhi Leonard that fans love.

There is no pressure for Kawhi Leonard to rush into the season this year. James Harden had an awesome season. He took on the offense. Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac stepped up too. This has helped LA win many games. With Ty Lue and Jeff Van Gundy being great coaches and able to make needed adjustments, LA needs to win. The Clippers can slowly integrate Kawhi into the offense. And there are no longer expectations for Kawhi to be the first option. Harden and Powell can take over the offense. On defense, Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn take a lot of pressure away and could guard the best opposing player. Kawhi could become a decent 23- or 24-point scorer and a help defender, which could help the Clippers. Letting Paul George walk away for depth was the best decision, and it has paid off.

The Clippers finally got their star back in order to compete against a tough west. Kawhi is one of the best players in the league when healthy, and last night he was able to score 12 points in 19 minutes. It was impressive and fun to watch Kawhi not lose his step. The hope is that he stays healthy and can help LA win the title and hang a banner in their new stadium.

  Follow @SyedNBABlogs on Twitter for NBA Content!