Live Cricket BPL reports that the San Antonio Spurs have officially announced star forward Kawhi Leonard will not play in Sunday’s playoff opener against the Golden State Warriors. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Leonard has left San Antonio once again to continue his rehab in New York, and there are no signs that a return is imminent.

Sources close to the situation suggest Leonard may be done for the season entirely. The likelihood of him appearing in the 2023–2024 playoffs is slim. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich recently admitted uncertainty about Leonard’s status, saying, “I don’t know when he and his group will feel he’s ready. If I knew, he’d be here. When they think he’s good to go, then he’ll play.” Live Cricket BPL adds that tension has reportedly grown between Leonard’s camp and the Spurs organization over his prolonged absence.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has also reported that several teams are expected to inquire about Leonard’s availability this offseason. Leonard is under contract through the summer of 2020 but holds a player option to opt out in 2019 and test free agency. However, the Spurs retain the ability to offer him a five-year max extension worth $220 million this summer—potentially the largest contract in NBA history. Whether Leonard and the Spurs can find common ground remains an open question.

Due to a lingering quadriceps tendon injury, the 26-year-old forward has only appeared in nine games this season. He averaged 23.3 minutes per game, with stats of 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks—solid numbers but a far cry from his MVP-caliber performances in years past.

Live Cricket BPL notes that without Leonard, the Spurs have still managed to remain competitive, finishing the regular season with a 47–35 record and securing the seventh seed in the Western Conference. But as they prepare to face the defending champions, San Antonio will be without their best player, and the weight of the series will fall on veterans like LaMarcus Aldridge and the strategic brilliance of Coach Popovich.