With 5:10 remaining in the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 20, Kawhi Leonard checked out for the Los Angeles Clippers and did not return. 

The score was 112-109 Lakers, and Leonard had scored 31 points in 31 minutes. 

It was said that Leonard left the game with an apparent ankle injury. 

On Sunday, Leonard played 33 minutes, scoring 37 points against the Orlando Magic.  

Speaking after the game, Leonard explained why he didn't return against the Lakers. 

"I only had two minutes left to play in the game anyway. Just a lingering injury. They said if it didn't loosen up, just let them know. I told them that I'd rather play the minutes I played than blow it out in the two minutes I had left. Just went to the back, make sure everything was right, and got treatment," he said. 

Leonard said that his ankle felt good against the Magic and that he was still battling through. 

He entered the game as questionable on the injury report before ultimately suiting up. 

Leonard has not missed a game since January 20 and has averaged 30 minutes a night in the 14 games since. 

He missed a three-game stretch in January with a knee injury after missing ten games in early November with an ankle injury. 

Leonard's health will always be a topic of discussion due to his extensive injury history. 

Throughout his career, Kawhi has battled various lower-body injuries, including a severe right quadriceps injury in 2017-18, a torn ACL that kept him out of the entire 2021-22 season, and a torn meniscus that sidelined him in the 2023 playoffs. 

He played just 37 games last season due to knee inflammation issues. 

Though there are plenty of jokes made about Kawhi's availability, this year has been different for the two-time NBA Finals MVP. 

Leonard is having arguably the strongest season of his career, averaging a career-high 28 points per game on an efficient 49% from the field, 38% from three, and a 56% effective field goal percentage. 

He's also averaging two or more steals per game for the first time since 2017-18, when he played just nine games in his last season in San Antonio. 

Kawhi has finished top five in MVP voting three times in his career, and while he's unlikely to reach that mark this season due to the Clippers' record, his play on the court has reminded everyone that he's still a top ten player in the game when he's available.