According to the latest news, not too long ago, Clippers star Kohwet Leonard said that the new NBA policy requires All-Star caliber players to play more, but it won't change the way he prepares for games. He also added that he will continue to play as long as he is healthy. Leonard and his Clippers teammate Paul George have become the most scrutinized players under the new NBA player participation rules that went into effect this season. Leonard underwent what's known as "load management" after returning from a leg injury, which helped him lead the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship, while the Clippers have been cautious with his workload in the four seasons since.
Leonard tore the meniscus in his right knee in the team's first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns in April, re-injuring it two years after tearing the ACL in the same knee. During media day at the team's practice facility, Leonard said he didn't know what the new rule was at first. A reporter gave an example of Leonard saying, "I wasn't just trying to rest because I was doing load management. It was different when I was with the Raptors. For example, I was just coming off an injury. You have to get the details from the doctors."
"But if the league sees or someone takes the opportunity to try to mock my performance with the Raptors, that should stop because I was injured that whole year. But other than that, if I can play, I'm going to play basketball. I work out every day in the summer to play, not sit around and watch other people play. So no league policy is going to help me play more." George is also coming back from a season-ending knee injury in March. He said his knee prevented him from playing even when the Clippers advanced to last season's NBA Finals in June.
Asked if he felt obligated to play as much as possible, George said he did. George said, "Of course, it depends on the players you're playing with and the fans. So, yeah, I agree 100% that players have an obligation to play as much as they can, and there's a lot of things to think about right now, like injuries, and not trying to play by sticking with something that might keep you out longer. But if healthy, I'm definitely going to suit up and I want to play every night."
