Broadcaster Kendrick Perkins criticized ‘Road Management’.
‘Road management’ means that players do not play for a break even though they are not injured. And in recent seasons, players’ road management is becoming more and more common.
When mentioning road management, there is a player who comes out without missing out. It is Kawhi Leonard (201cm, F) of the LA Clippers.
Leonard, who debuted through the 메이저사이트 2011-2012 NBA draft, was not a healthy player in the first place. Since his debut team, the San Antonio Spurs, he has suffered from minor injuries even under his management. Nevertheless, he played more than 60 games in all but the second year. In the 2016-2017 season, he played 74 games, the most in his career, and recorded 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists at the time.
However, in the playoffs that season, an incident occurred that changed Leonard’s career. He stepped on Zaza Pachulia’s foot in the process of landing after a jump shot during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, and was subsequently sidelined for that series due to an injury.
Afterwards, he recovered from injury in the 2017-2018 season, but only played 9 games due to disagreements with the team. And right after that season, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors. Leonard didn’t play back-to-back games in Toronto. Leonard, who conserved his stamina, averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists in the playoffs, leading Toronto to its first championship.
Ahead of the 2019-2020 season, he moved to the Clippers. And at the Clippers, Leonard’s road management continued. The problem was that he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the playoffs in the 2020-2021 season and could not play a game the following season.
Leonard has returned to the court this season, but has been sidelined by injury. And on the 6th (hereinafter Korean time), he returned from the match against the Charlotte Hornets. The problem was that he did not play in the Phoenix Suns game on the 16th. The game was the Clippers’ back-to-back schedule. ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins responded.
“The road management of the players is disrespectful to the fans,” Perkins said. And I, the audience, started to get angry. If I take a break for one reason or another, I have no idea when I will play and when I will have time. I see this is wrong,” he said, criticizing road management.
Meanwhile, the Clippers are unmoved by the injuries of Leonard and Paul George and are 18-14. Although they faced the Phoenix Suns and suffered a crushing defeat, they succeeded in reversing the mood by winning against the Washington Wizards, who are losing 8 straight games.