Former NBA champion calls for Kawhi Leonard to consider retirement

Kawhi Leonard has been struggling with knee injuries since tearing his ACL in 2021. The two-time NBA champion injured his meniscus the following season before swelling issues ended his 2023-24 campaign early, keeping him out of the playoffs.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Leonard isn't expected to be part of the Clippers rotation for the foreseeable future. He is still recovering from an offseason procedure on the same knee. Even when he does return to the court, he is at a high risk of quickly returning to his spot on the injury report.

During an appearance on Thursday's edition of ESPN's NBA Today, former champion Kendrick Perkins suggested now might be the time for Leonard to retire.

"This is not a hot take," Perkins said. "When you think about his history, and you think about now...Six months and there are still problems with his knee. Every single season, it's a problem when it comes down to Kawhi Leonard's health...I really think Kawhi Leonard should consider retiring...There's only so many surgeries that you can have when it comes down to repairing things and repairing cartlidge in your knee...That conversation really needs to be had."

Leonard signed a three-year, $149.5 million contract extension with the Clippers in January, but it's unlikely that his on-court production justifies that financial commitment throughout the deal. By retiring, Leonard would protect his body from further damage while freeing the Clippers from their commitment.

Despite his injury-riddled seasons of late, Leonard would still be a genuine Hall of Fame candidate. During his prime, he was among the best players on the planet. He approached the game the right way, stayed out of the limelight, and was a key component to both championship rosters he was part of.

Deciding whether to call time on his career at 33 will undoubtedly be challenging. If injuries weren't a factor, Leonard would still be among the elite talents in the NBA. However, he must consider how much damage he will cause his body to remain in the league. Right now, the situation is close to being untenable.

It might be a tough call, but Perkins has a point. Maybe now is the right time for Leonard to enter the next phase of his life.