Steve Fisher: 'Basketball Junkie' Kawhi Leonard Played Through Every Injury

Former San Diego State Aztecs head coach Steve Fisher doesn't think anybody should question the commitment of San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard, who continues to be absent while recovering from right quadriceps tendinopathy.

"Kawhi is a basketball junkie," Fisher said Sunday, per Fox Sports Radio's Mark Willard. "It's all he wants to do. When I had him, he played through every injury."

Leonard played under Fisher for two seasons before making the jump to the NBA.

The fact nobody seems to know when or if Leonard will play again this season has been a source of frustration among those inside the team and Spurs fans in general.

Spurs general manager R.C. Buford told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Michael C. Wright in January that Leonard's rehabilitation had been "difficult for everyone."

Wojnarowski reported Friday the Spurs held a players-only meeting in which Leonard's teammates lobbied for him to get back on the court to help the team ahead of the NBA playoffs. Wojnarowski wrote the meeting was "tense and emotional at times" and that Leonard reiterated he "has good reason to continue sitting out because he still isn't fully healthy."

However, Spurs guard Danny Green told the San Antonio Express-News' Tom Orsborn there wasn't any friction among players during the meeting. Orsborn added Leonard was unable to provide a firm timeline for his return.

San Antonio has eight games left in the regular season, and the playoffs officially start April 14, leaving Leonard with little time to come back this year.