Kawhi Leonard Illness: Updates on Spurs Star's Status and Return

San Antonio Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard missed Saturday's game with an illness but is ready to return to action.

Continue for updates.

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Leonard to Play vs. Blazers

Monday, Nov. 16

Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News reported Leonard will "give it a go" against Portland.

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Leonard Emerging As Future Face of the Franchise

Leonard won the Defensive Player of the Year award last season and became the third player in league history to win that and an NBA Finals MVP in a career (alongside Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon). He led the NBA in steals at 2.3 per game and is asked to guard the opponent’s best player on a nightly basis.

He is also a budding offensive force and posted 16.5 points a night in 2014-15 and is off to a fantastic start this season, averaging a career-high 21.9 points, 7.5 rebounds per game and shooting percentage of 52.6. 

The Spurs do have a number of versatile options to take Leonard’s place if he finds himself out of action later in the season, including second-year player Kyle Anderson. Anderson barely saw the floor during his rookie campaign, but he brings much of the same size and athleticism to the table that Leonard does at 6’9”.

Anderson posted 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game in his final season at UCLA and could thrive with more playing time if Leonard isn't 100 percent.