The Los Angeles Clippers star is out indefinitely due to inflammation in his right knee: report

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

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Kawhi Leonard will be out indefinitely as he battles inflammation in his right knee. 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 on a rehabilitation program to ensure the long-term sustainability and health of the two-time NBA Finals MVP. Leonard missed the entire preseason and did not participate in any activities that involved contact on the field.

The 33-year-old striker has been suffering from problems with his right knee since last season. He developed knee inflammation 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 play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics over the summer, but was sent home after a few training sessions.

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