Kawhi Leonard is evidently ready to play basketball again.

The LA Clippers upgraded Leonard from out to questionable on their injury report Friday night, and he is expected to make his season debut Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Leonard has been recovering from a right knee injury. He hasn’t played since April 26, when he participated in Game 3 of the Clippers’ playoff series against Dallas.

He missed 12 of the Clippers’ last 14 games last season due to right knee inflammation. Although he believed he was fit enough to represent USA Basketball in the summer Olympics in Paris, he was sent home due to concerns about his knee health and was replaced by Derrick White on the team that eventually won gold.

A two-time NBA champion, six-time All-Star, and six-time All-NBA player, Leonard’s career has been marked by injury challenges. Over the past eight years, he has missed 290 games, including the entire 2021-22 season due to knee problems. Last season, he played in 68 games, his best showing since 2016-17 with San Antonio.

“This is just my journey,” Leonard stated this summer regarding his injuries. “I can’t lay out the perfect script for me. I tried my best this past year, felt great, and then I couldn’t continue.”

He has contributed an average of 20 points per game throughout his career and is a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.