The San Antonio Spurs won’t have MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard for the preseason due to a quad injury. The Spurs also ended last season without Leonard being available — after Zaza Pachulia’s controversial defense led to a Leonard ankle injury in the playoffs against the Warriors. The Spurs and head coach Gregg Popovich quietly put together the second-best record in the NBA last season, with Leonard clearly establishing himself the best two-way player in the league. The Spurs were beating the Warriors by 25 in Game 1 of their playoff series when Leonard went down on Pachulia’s foot.
The quad injury that has Leonard out this season was also present last year, according to Popovich. Popovich told reporters that Leonard has been rehabbing the quad, but that he’s not ready. The Spurs, known for being very careful with how they rest and use their players, are expected to err on the side of caution in bringing Leonard back. He will miss the entire preseason. There is no word out of San Antonio about when Leonard will return.
