SAN ANTONIO – After sitting out the entire 2017 preseason and missing the season opener at home, San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard was seen struggling up the staircase to board the team’s plane Friday afternoon.
RELATED: Spurs announce Kawhi Leonard will sit out preseason as he recovers from injury
On Sept. 30, the Spurs announced that star forward Leonard “continues a rehabilitation program for right quadriceps tendinopathy” and that a “timetable for his return to the court will be determined at a later date.”
Video of Spurs departure captured by KSAT shows Leonard taking his time on the staircase, dragging his injured right leg behind and almost putting no weight on it.
Kawhi Leonard boarding the #Spurs charter flight for Chicago. #KSATsports #KSATnews pic.twitter.com/Z3lgfQOtMc
— Larry Ramirez (@LRam2) October 20, 2017
In the last the preseason game against the Houston Rockets, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said Leonard needs more time to recover from his injury, adding, “(Leonard is) still rehabbing, and when he’s ready, he’ll be ready.”
INJURY UPDATE: pic.twitter.com/CjZmb7HTFs
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) September 30, 2017
With no Leonard in the lineup, the Spurs were still able to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-99 in the home opener Wednesday night.
It's official. Kawhi Leonard listed as out for #Spurs regular season opener tomorrow vs #Wolves #KSATnews #KSATsports pic.twitter.com/Rt9rTfSfxT
— RJ Marquez (@KSATRJ) October 17, 2017
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The Spurs (1-0) travel to Chicago to face the Bulls (0-1) Saturday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. CT.
