The objective was simple for Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. With the Clippers getting dragged through the coals for sitting Kawhi Leonard for a second time in the team's first eight games of the 2019-20 season, the NBA gave the organization a legitimate reason for keeping him out of action for a nationally televised game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
The NBA's medical team sided with the Clippers in their decision to sit Leonard "for management of an injury was consistent with league rules" since he "is suffering from an ongoing injury to the patella tendon in his left knee and has been placed by the team at this time on an injury protocol for back-to-back games."
Both sides were on the same page regarding how the Clips were handling Kawhi's lingering health issues. So when Rivers was asked by reporters about Kawhi, all Doc needed to do was echo what has been previously said by the league. Spoiler: He didn't.
"I think Kawhi made a statement that he’s never felt better," Doc said. "It’s our job to make sure he stays that way."
"… So, it's not a health thing, really. It is in some ways," he continued. "We want him to just keep feeling better and getting better."
Doc Rivers on what he says to fans that will see an NBA game disappointed not seeing a star player on the floor pic.twitter.com/MkHhLES6U8
By claiming that Leonard sitting out the first game of a back-to-back was "not a health thing, really," Doc's comments created "inconsistencies" regarding the understanding of Kawhi's health status, and that's why he has been given a $50,000 fine.
