On October 27, 2026, Shams Charania reported that Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss multiple weeks with swelling in his left knee; an MRI showed no structural damage. The Raptors said Leonard will be reevaluated in a week and will miss the road trip to Los Angeles. The discussion has moved from the injury itself to Leonard's durability, with Stephen A. Smith calling him the worst superstar in sports history and arguing he gets paid without working.