"Competing With Anthony Davis": NBA Fans React as Kawhi Leonard Misses 10th Game While Clippers Slip to 4-11

Kawhi Leonard is expected to sit out his 10th consecutive game for the slumping LA Clippers, a team that has dropped nine of its last 10 contests and fallen near the bottom of the Western Conference. Leonard, who is dealing with sprains to his right ankle and foot, is reportedly set to remain sidelined Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets.

Leonard has battled multiple injuries since arriving in LA in 2019. He has never played 70 games in a season with the Clippers and is coming off a campaign in which he appeared in only 37.

As word spread that he would miss his 10th game of the still-young season, fans quickly drew comparisons to another star known for his injuries: Anthony Davis of the likewise struggling Dallas Mavericks, who has been out for 12 straight games because of a left calf strain.

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“He's competing with Anthony Davis to see who can miss more games,” one comment read. “Kawhi plays basketball the way I go to the gym: once a month,” another said. “To look back in the summer of 2019 free agency and say AD, PG, and Kawhi were guys you wanted on your team. Now they're all injury prone. What happened?” another commented.

One OKC Thunder fan joked that OKC benefits from Leonard’s absences, as the Thunder own the Clippers’ unprotected pick in next year’s draft.

“Keep missing those games Kawhi! Us Thunder fans love you for it😎🤙🏼,” the fan said.

Here are other reactions.

What’s next for the LA Clippers without Kawhi Leonard?

Without Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers are navigating their longest road swing of the season: a seven-game trip in which they have gone 1-3 so far.

Their lone win came in the first game of the trip, a double-overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks that snapped their six-game skid.

Ahead for the Clippers are visits to Charlotte on Saturday, Cleveland on Sunday and a return to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Tuesday.

They will then host Memphis and Dallas for two home games before taking on a grueling five-game road stretch with stops in Miami, Atlanta, Memphis, Minnesota and OKC.

The Clippers are 4-11, placing them 12th in the Western Conference, ahead of only the Mavericks, Kings and Pelicans.

Kawhi Leonard's timeline to return remains uncertain, but in the games he has played, he has averaged 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists -- All-Star-level production if he were able to meet the 65-game availability requirement.

Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro