Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue expressed his full support for Kawhi Leonard’s decision to leave the team temporarily to attend to family matters amid the ongoing wildfires ravaging Southern California.
Lue, as reported by NBA insider Bennett Durando, made it clear that family comes first. “You definitely have to take care of home,” the coach said. “Totally had my support 100%. Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”
The wildfires, which began on January 8, have devastated large parts of Los Angeles, including Malibu and the Pacific Palisades neighborhoods. These fires, fueled by Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation, have prompted evacuations and caused significant destruction.
In the midst of this crisis, Leonard, who has appeared in just two games this season, made the decision to step away from the team to ensure his family’s safety. His absence was felt as the Clippers suffered a 126-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
Despite the loss, Lue reiterated that the safety of Leonard’s family was the priority. The head coach acknowledged that it was important for Leonard to take the time needed to ensure everything was in order.
The Clippers, playing without their star player, struggled in Denver. Norman Powell led the team with 30 points, but the absence of Leonard and the team’s defensive lapses made it difficult to stay competitive. Meanwhile, the Nuggets dominated the game from the start, with contributions from Jamal Murray and DeAndre Jordan, who stepped up in place of the absent Nikola Jokic.
