Spurs Leonard plans on returning soon

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Kawhi Leonard plans on returning this season and wants to remain with the Spurs for life, refuting reports of dissension with the star forward and the only franchise he has played for.

Leonard has missed all but nine games this season with right quadriceps tendinopathy, which initially flared up late in the offseason.

Leonard made the remarks during an impromptu, four-minute press conference Wednesday morning following Spurs practice. He will not travel with the team on the upcoming three-game road trip to Golden State, Oklahoma City and Houston, but said a return is imminent.

"Soon," Leonard said of his return. "I don't have a set date right now, but I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing. The progress that I'm making has been great. So, I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing."

He has been riding a stationary bike and participating in three-on-three drills to simulate the physical contact of games, but has done so with staff members and "not my players."

Leonard denied an ESPN report that he was unhappy with the Spurs' handling of his injury and was possibly seeking to leave the team once his contract ends next season. When asked if he wanted to remain with the Spurs for his entire career, Leonard said, "Yeah, for sure."

The ESPN report said friction had developed because Leonard saw his own doctors and was opting to not play even though he was medically cleared by the group.

"Everything was done as a group," Leonard said. "I don't feel like nothing was friction. I talk to Pop (coach Greg Popovich) every day. He knows what the progressions were, he knew what I was doing the whole entire time, as well as the front office. We made a group decision, so it wasn't me just going out and saying I'm going to go do this."

The Spurs have struggled without Leonard, along with various injuries to Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay, Danny Green and Kyle Anderson. San Antonio has lost seven of the last 10 games, falling from third to fifth in the Western Conference.

Leonard watched as the Spurs blew a 15-point lead to New Orleans on Feb. 28 and a 17-point lead to the Los Angeles Lakers on March 3. San Antonio never trailed until the final two minutes of each home game.

"It's been tough (not playing), but these guys have been doing it all season," Leonard said. "They've been playing great. I'm thankful for the teammates that I do have. They understand the situation that I'm in. They're playing well. I've just gotta get better, I can't come back unhealthy."

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year played in nine games after missing the season's first 27, but returned to the sideline following a home game against Denver on Jan. 13.

"It's hard to explain, but obviously I'm a competitor," Leonard said. "If I could play, I'm going to go out and play like I did in the nine games, just to test it out. It just wasn't where we wanted it to be."

Team officials said Leonard was suffering pain and discomfort in the leg following that game against the Nuggets, leading them to sideline him indefinitely.

"(The discomfort is) diminishing," Leonard said. "It's hard to explain, but I am definitely better. Feel better and am feeling more comfortable."