Woj: Kawhi Leonard Dealt with Tendinitis Injury in Eastern Conference Finals

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard somehow averaged 29.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the Eastern Conference Finals despite functioning at less than 100 percent. 

On Thursday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on NBA Countdown (h/t Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints) that Leonard suffered from tendinitis and will presumably continue to play through the malady in the NBA Finals (4:30 mark).

"It's clear [Leonard] is still not 100 percent," Wojnarowski told ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth.

"I think the feeling has been that with the quad injury, he's had to maybe put more pressure on his knee and some of that tendinitis. They would love to see what a fully healthy Kawhi Leonard looks like. You've seen moments when he's had to get up and dunk and put it down on somebody.

"He's able to do it, but you've also seen a lot of it's been just, he plays at a different speed at his own pace. He makes you play to his pace, and it's been remarkable the way he's carried this organization. They would love to see, to have him back again next year beyond with a full summer of health. But right now I think he's got enough in the tank to carry them to the finish line."

Leonard led the Raptors to a six-game series win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Toronto will face the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals beginning Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

Despite the reported tendinitis, Leonard shined during the penultimate round, even recording 2.2 steals per game in addition to his series-leading scoring output. He also looked 100 percent healthy when he threw down a poster dunk over Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo:

Leonard played every other day during that series, so he didn't have much time to rest before taking the floor. However, the 2014 NBA Finals MVP had four full days off between the end of the Eastern Conference Finals and the beginning of the championship round, which can only help as he looks to lead Toronto to its first NBA Finals win since the franchise's 1995 debut.

Injuries are a key storyline in this year's Finals.

Warriors forward Kevin Durant is out for at least Game 1 (and likely Game 2) due to a right calf strain suffered in the Western Conference semifinals, but Golden State center DeMarcus Cousins will be making his return after suffering a quad injury in the first round. Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala will also be back in the mix after he missed one game with a left calf injury.

On the Toronto side, the Raptors could soon return forward OG Anunoby, who is recovering from appendicitis. He's out for Game 1, but Toronto head coach Nick Nurse is optimistic for a Game 2 return.