Kawhi Leonard to miss at least another week but is making progress

Now beginning the return to play process, which is a positive.

Published Nov 03, 2026  •  Last updated 25 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors. Photo by Caleb Bowlin /Getty Images

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Kawhi Leonard is making progress, but will miss at least another week, the Toronto Raptors said Tuesday.

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“Kawhi Leonard has successfully completed treatment to address left knee swelling,” the Raptors said in a release.

“He will now begin the return to play process in Toronto, and his progress will be updated in one week.”

Leonard played in the team’s first two games, both wins, but has missed the last five due to the left knee swelling. He had not looked like his usual self in two exhibition games or the two in the regular season and was a late scratch at Minnesota on Oct. 25 after going through the warmup.

He will miss at least the next three games (Wednesday at Denver, Friday at Milwaukee, and Monday’s home game against Memphis). The earliest return date would be for one leg of the back-to-back Oct. 11 and 12 at home against Boston and on the road against the loaded Philadelphia 76ers. The team then hosts defending NBA champion New York on the 15th and 17th.

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The two-time NBA Finals MVP played in 65 games last season and in 68 in 2023-24, but has frequently missed large chunks of games due to injuries, though while with the Los Angeles Clippers the injuries were usually related to his right knee, not his left.

While reports last week had Leonard missing weeks, the Raptors maintained it would all depend on how he responded to treatment.

“Seven days from now, we’re gonna review where he’s at and have a clearer plan,” head coach Darko Rajakovic had said last Tuesday. “Right now, he’s going through the treatments. He’s reacting well to those treatments, and in seven days’ time, we’re gonna have a much better feel what it looks like,” Rajakovic said.

“Return to play. What is the timeline? At this point, we don’t have exact date. We don’t have exact timeline.”

That remains the case, but Tuesday’s news seemed positive at least.

Leonard had released a statement when the news first broke, saying: “Yeah it’s always frustrating missing time. I came back to compete with this team and I’m focused on getting back to 100. I’ve appreciated the love since I’ve been back. Returning soon. Godspeed, Whi.”

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