The league released the following statement regarding the Clippers and the playing status of Leonard.
Leonard did not play in a nationally-televised game on ESPN Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks due to his ongoing "load management" plan.
The fine, however, came because of "statements, including by head coach Doc Rivers, that were inconsistent with Leonard's health status".
"There's no concern here, but we want to make sure", Rivers said of Leonard's health.
Asked Thursday if he could offer any more clarity regarding Leonard's health, Rivers said, "No, I think we said it all. A lot of teams are considering and doing things to make sure their whole roster is healthy".
The NBA approved the Clippers' decision to manage the 28-year-old, but it fined the team for comments made about Leonard's fitness. The NBA can't be happy when Los Angeles decides to rest one of the game's biggest stars on national television.
Strangely enough, the competitive aspect of sitting Leonard at times for "load management" should have already been vindicated.
Leonard has not played in back-to-back games since the 2017 season with the Spurs.
Making matters murkier, Leonard is expected to play against Portland on Friday. The Bucks are starting to revert to their 2018 form, as they topped Minnesota on the road 134-106 on Monday night.
Prior to the Thursday's game Clippers vs. Trail Blazers game Doc Rivers declined to dive into conversation surrrounding the fine other than to crack a joke when asked about it.
Los Angeles is coming off a 105-94 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday, led by 30 points from Kawhi Leonard. Having said that, you should care about all of the fans because they pay. "I don't understand it", Burke said. "My son motivates me to keep playing".
