Load Management: Why it’s necessary for Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers
By Joey Linn
What is Kawhi Leonard’s injury?
For the first time since Kawhi’s load management schedule with the Clippers began gaining national attention, clarity on what exactly was occurring got delivered.
Dr. Rajpal Brar, a scientist, wellness coach, and doctor of physical therapy at 3CB Performance, released a nine-minute video that explained in detail not only what Kawhi’s injury is, but why load management is a necessary component in preserving his health.
Brar began by explaining that the initial diagnosis from the Spurs medical staff was that Kawhi was experiencing right quadriceps tendinopathy. Along with that, Kawhi’s personal medical staff concluded that his right quad had also suffered a deep contusion, which if untreated, can lead to much-worsening conditions, such as calcium deposits and even bone growth.
This was the cause for Toronto’s load management schedule of Kawhi Leonard in the 2018-19 season. The plan may have been to only do this for one season, and go back to scheduled programming upon completion of the playoffs, but this all changed in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals when Kawhi came up limping after landing awkwardly on his left leg after a thunderous dunk.
The limp continued throughout the playoffs, and Kawhi was seen sporting a brace over that knee during the offseason as well. At that time, the only known knowledge of the injury sustained in the series against the Bucks, was that is was compensatory due to Kawhi favoring his right quad and leg.
Specifics of Kawhi’s injury were revealed early this season when Doc Rivers was fined for essentially stating Kawhi was healthy when the medical reports given to the league by the Clippers claimed otherwise.
The exact reasons for Doc’s comments are unknown, but it is likely as simple as Doc intentionally respecting Kawhi and his privacy. After the trust was breached between Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs’ organization and medical staff, the Clippers have taken all measures to not only respect Kawhi physically, but psychologically and personally as well.
In response to Doc’s comments, the league released a clarifying statement that revealed Kawhi’s injury was left knee patellar tendinopathy, which labeled him physically unable to participate in back to back games.