Kawhi Leonard Sidelined Weeks with Left Knee Swelling; Raptors Star to Be Reevaluated in Seven Days

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss multiple weeks after swelling developed in his left knee, according to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday. An MRI conducted on the 35-year-old two-time Finals MVP revealed no structural damage, but the organization and player will use the downtime to carefully ramp up his workload ahead of a reevaluation scheduled for one week from now.

Injury Details and Immediate Timeline

Leonard missed his first game of the 2026–27 season on Sunday against the visiting Miami Heat, cited at the time as left knee soreness. The swelling persisted through Monday’s testing, prompting the MRI that ruled out ligament, meniscus, or cartilage tears. The Raptors’ official statement characterized the issue as swelling management rather than an acute injury, a distinction that matters for both ...