Kristie Ackert, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports Wed, November 4, 2026 at 12:55 AM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kawhi Leonard is headed back to Toronto. Getting back on the court is the next step.
The Raptors announced Tuesday, Nov. 3 that Leonard, 35, has completed treatment for swelling in his left knee and will begin the return-to-play process in Toronto. The team will update his progress in one week.
Leonard has missed five consecutive games. He felt something in the knee during pregame warmups Oct. 25 and was scratched from a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves . An MRI showed no structural damage.
Coach Darko Rajakovic said Oct. 29 that Leonard was getting his treatment outside of Toronto. At the time, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Leonard would miss at least three to four weeks. The Raptors didn't say Tuesday whether that window has changed.
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) lifts up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after defeating Golden State Warriors for the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports) Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23), guard Kyle Lowry (7), forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and center Serge Ibaka (9) celebrate after beating the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) celebrates winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP after beating the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka (9) celebrate with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports) Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrate winning the NBA Championship over the Golden State Warriors after Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on June 13, 2019. (Sergio Estrada, USA TODAY Sports) Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena in Tornto, Ontario, Canada, on June 10, 2019. (Nathan Denette, USA TODAY Sports) Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half in Game 3 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. The Raptors defeated the Warriors 123-109 to lead the series 2-1. (Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks for a basket past Phildelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in game one of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports) Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) answers questions during media day at Scotiabank Arena in Tornto, Ontario, Canada on Sept. 24, 2018. (Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports) 1 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) lifts up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after defeating Golden State Warriors for the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports) 1 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) lifts up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after defeating Golden State Warriors for the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports) 2 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23), guard Kyle Lowry (7), forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and center Serge Ibaka (9) celebrate after beating the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 3 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) celebrates winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP after beating the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 4 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka (9) celebrate with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports) 5 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrate winning the NBA Championship over the Golden State Warriors after Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on June 13, 2019. (Sergio Estrada, USA TODAY Sports) 6 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena in Tornto, Ontario, Canada, on June 10, 2019. (Nathan Denette, USA TODAY Sports) 7 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half in Game 3 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. The Raptors defeated the Warriors 123-109 to lead the series 2-1. (Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 8 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks for a basket past Phildelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in game one of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports) 9 / 9 Kawhi Leonard is reuniting with the Raptors. Relive their title run Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) answers questions during media day at Scotiabank Arena in Tornto, Ontario, Canada on Sept. 24, 2018. (Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports) This left knee problem is new.
Leonard already has injury history with the right knee. Leonard tore the ACL in his right knee in the 2021 NBA playoffs and the meniscus in the 2023 playoffs – both with the Los Angeles Clippers .
Toronto brought the two-time NBA Finals MVP back this offseason, sending Brandon Ingram , Gradey Dick and draft picks to Los Angeles. The deal was agreed to in late June, then sat until September while the NBA investigated the Clippers and Leonard for a salary cap circumvention scheme . The league fined Leonard $700,000. He signed a two-year, $115 million extension with Toronto soon after.
Leonard played in the Raptors' first two games, both wins. He averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals but shot just 32.4% from the field. Last season, he played 65 games for the Clippers and averaged 27.9 points.
The Raptors (4-3) are 2-3 without him. The next update is due Nov. 10.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kawhi Leonard injury update: Raptors star finishes knee treatment but still out
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