Kawhi Leonard Out at Least One Week as Raptors Address Left Knee Swelling

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday that Kawhi Leonard will miss at least one week while undergoing treatment and rehabilitation for swelling in his left knee. Medical imaging revealed no acute injury, an encouraging result after Leonard became a late scratch before Sunday’s loss to Minnesota.

Leonard has appeared in two games since returning to Toronto this offseason, averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals in 26 minutes per game. The 35-year-old is shooting only 32 percent from the field, but his availability matters far more than his early shooting numbers. Toronto reacquired the two-time Finals MVP this summer and later gave him a $115 million extension that can run through the 2028-29 season.

The Raptors now face the familiar challenge that comes with building around Leonard: keeping him healthy enough to matter when the games become most important. The absence is officially at least one week, and Toronto has not announced a firm return date. The positive news is that testing found no new structural injury. For a team that brought Leonard back with championship ambitions, managing the swelling carefully in October is far more important than rushing him through the opening weeks of the season.