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01/08/2025 05:46 PM
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is stepping away from the team to be with family members who were evacuated by the wildfires in the L.A. area, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.
It’s unclear how long Leonard will be away from the Clippers, but he will miss Wednesday’s game in Denver against the Nuggets.
Three major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex on Wednesday following two days of extraordinary winds. At least 70,000 people are under evacuation orders, and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed.
Leonard has played in two games with the Clippers this season after returning from right knee inflammation on Jan. 4. The six-time All-Star has scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds while playing 40 total minutes across those two contests.
The wildfires also led to the postponement of Monday’s NHL game between the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings, and Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters Tuesday that his family members were among those evacuated.
"I just want to acknowledge and send thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now," Redick said prior to the Lakers’ 118-97 loss to the Mavericks. "That's where I live.”
The NFL is also paying close attention to the potential impact of the fires on the two playoff-bound Los Angeles teams’ preparations and the Rams’ wild-card post-season game against the Minnesota Vikings scheduled for Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
— With files from The Associated Press
