Kawhi Leonard is in Orlando, Florida, and going through the quarantine procedure before signing up with the LA Clippers for group activities.
Coach Doc Rivers confirmed Saturday that the Clippers All-Star forward did show up at the Walt Disney World Resort as anticipated after Leonard was excused by the team to tend to a household matter when the Clippers flew to Orlando on Wednesday.
” Kawhi, he is here, he is going through the protocol,” Rivers said. He will be quarantining for 2 days.
The Clippers closed their team center out of care after there was a positive coronavirus test amongst their travel party, ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski reported on July 2.
Rivers stated the Clippers gamers who are in Orlando are healthy, including Leonard.” I do not understand that yet,” Rivers said.” We spoke as a team and we decided that our choice, it was going to be everyone or no one,” Williams said. The Clippers coach passionately spoke up during his Zoom session with press reporters about Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.” They constantly attempt to turn it into the military or the police,” Rivers said.
Rivers said the Clippers players who are in Orlando are healthy, consisting of Leonard. Which was something he might not state for much of the season. Leonard has managed a knee issue for much of the time, and Paul George eased his way into the season as he recuperated from offseason surgeries on his shoulders.
George said his shoulders are 100 percent and that the Clippers benefited from the four-month hiatus amidst the coronavirus pandemic to let unpleasant injuries recover. Rivers would not state how the Clippers prepare to ramp Leonard back up for postseason play.
” I dont know that yet,” Rivers said. “I think everybodys healthy, that is a great thing. Men were not as healthy in training school at the beginning of this year. Now we got Paul George healthy, we have Kawhi healthy, we do not have a man thats injured today, knock on wood. Hope that continues.”
The Clippers (44-20) went through their 2nd practice on Saturday as they resume their title chase. Guard Lou Williams stated the Clippers held a team vote on whether to even go to Orlando and participate in the NBA restart.
Williams was “50-50″ about whether to play once again due to the fact that he, like some other players around the league, feared that video games might distract from the protests around the country against social oppression and cops cruelty. Williams voiced his issues about the league having the ability to promote Black Lives Matter and continue the momentum the motion had.
” We spoke as a group and we chose that our decision, it was going to be everybody or nobody,” Williams said. “And so when we took a seat, we decided to take a vote and we simply had more things in typical and we simply decided that we were going to come as a group. So Im part of the group.
” I have a lot of thoughts and concepts of the things that I felt highly about personally, however I represent a group. I represent an organization; so ultimately that resulted in my choice.”
Rivers said the organization “pressed” the players to talk about returning to play so that they had the “ideal state of mind” and likewise the capability to defend what they believe in while in Orlando.
The Clippers coach passionately spoke out throughout his Zoom session with press reporters about Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. Hawley sent out a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver about the leagues social justice messages on uniforms. Hawley tweeted, “why not Support our Troops or Back heaven? Or offered how much $$ @nba makes in #China, how about Free Hong Kong!”.
” They constantly attempt to turn it into the military or the police,” Rivers said. “Theres no league that does more for the military than the NBA. However how about that senator? Ill make up a challenge. We will do things for the troops as long as he acknowledges Black Lives Matter. I think that would be really cool for him to do.
” Its amusing, whenever we talk about justice, people attempt to change the message,” Rivers continued. And everyone attempts to alter the story. How about remaining on what were talking about and dealing with that rather of trying to fool us or alter or trick your constituents?
” I ensure you that we have actually done more for the military than probably that senator. And I guarantee you this, we are going to do things for Black Lives Matter, how about him? Maybe he needs to join into that.”.