According to all accounts, Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers is a friendly guy.

He just doesn’t smile that much.

Therefore, any image of him looking joyful is celebrated and shared by NBA fans.

And any image of him looking happy and healthy is celebrated even more.

According to ClutchPoints, the Clippers posted a picture of Leonard putting up shots at the team’s practice facility, with a pretty big smile on his face.

Fans of the team were elated to see him in such good spirits.

Kawhi Leonard is all smiles at the Clippers practice facility

(via @LAClippers) pic.twitter.com/xPnXGi4eVH

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— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 25, 2023

The responses to this picture were mostly ones of happiness and even a bit of shock.

“Someone frame this ultra rare card,” one user said.

Someone frame this ultra rare card.

— John Kim (@JohnKim_24) September 26, 2023

Others were just happy to see Leonard healthy again.

He played 52 games last season and was only able to participate in two postseason games because of yet another injury that sidelined him.

Fans are very hopeful that he will remain healthy all season long in 2023-24.

welcome back king!

— imghut (@imgrpost) September 25, 2023

Some people aren’t convinced that will happen.

There are plenty of fans who believe that Leonard will again come up short and be forced to sit on the sidelines.

“About to make big time money playing 30 games this upcoming season smiles,” one user tweeted.

About to make big time money playing 30 games this upcoming season smile.

— Algenis Gómez (@MacanitaRD) September 25, 2023

Others said that Leonard is aware that he’s about to get injured again soon and is just enjoying his time on the court until then.

He knows he is about to get injured

— Jose Matos (@therealjrmatos) September 26, 2023

It has been a few years since Leonard has played a full season.

With new NBA rules in effect, he may be forced to suit up more often unless his team wants to be fined.

Right now, he is looking healthy – and happy – and ready to play.

Will that still be the case a few months from now?

The post Fans React To Latest Picture Of Kawhi Leonard In The Gym appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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New York Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin (lower body) and Filip Chytil (upper body) are both considered day to day, the team told reporters Tuesday.

“Just in general, with exhibition games, I think you want to just err on the side of caution and keep guys healthy,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said, per Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today.

Panarin led the Rangers with 92 points in 82 games last season, while Chytil had 45 points in 74 games.

Meanwhile, forward Mika Zibanejad (upper body) was back on the ice for practice in a non-contact jersey. He will not play Tuesday when the Rangers host the New York Islanders.

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Washington Capitals

Defenceman Joel Edmundson is out with an upper-body injury suffered during a scrimmage on Sunday.

Edmundson is meeting with medical staff on Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury.

The Capitals acquired Edmundson in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens this summer.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators sent three players back to junior on Tuesday.

Defencemen Matthew Andonovski and Tomas Hamara are returning to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, while Jorian Donovan is heading to the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Veteran defenceman Mark Pysyk, with Pittsburgh on a PTO, is out “longer term” with a lower-body injury, coach Mike Sullivan told reporters.

‘We were really looking forward to watching Mark throughout the exhibition season, getting him into some games, and seeing where he might potentially fit on our team,” Sullivan said, per the Penguins.

Pysyk, 31, had three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 68 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit was on the ice for practice Tuesday in a red non-contact jersey.

Benoit had been sidelined with back spasms.

The Leafs signed Benoit to a one-year, $775,000-deal this summer.

The Leafs also said forward Calle Jarnkrok was not practising because of a maintenance day.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko returned to the ice Tuesday after missing the start of camp with a back issue, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

Marchenko, 23, had 21 goals and four assists in 59 games in his first NHL campaign last year.

More from Sportsnet

Canadiens Notebook: Josh Anderson appears poised for breakout season

Why Ryan O’Reilly left the Maple Leafs for Nashville

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The Brooklyn Nets traded away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last season.

It left the organization with Ben Simmons as one of the cornerstone players alongside Mikal Bridges.

Simmons played in just 42 games during the 2022-23 season due to a knee injury.

The 27-year-old was scrutinized for missing so many games last season, but according to Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn, Simmons is 100% healthy heading into training camp, via Ian Begley on Twitter.

Nets’ Jacque Vaughn says Ben Simmons is 100 percent healthy and going 5 on 5 entering training camp.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 26, 2023

Simmons’ health has always been a huge concern for him since being drafted into the NBA.

Seven years down the line, it remains an issue for him in his career.

So much so that many believe the Nets made a huge mistake by trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for the former top pick.

But ahead of the 2023-24 season, Simmons has looked sharp in training clips.

Moreover, with the Nets head coach giving a positive update about Simmons’ health, he may finally get back to being an NBA All-Star level player in the league.

Simmons averaged just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game last season, a career-low for him in every aspect.

Apart from dealing with constant injuries, Simmons was reportedly going through some mental health struggles due to his strained relationship with the 76ers.

Now, with both issues resolved, there’s nothing that should stop him from becoming one of the best point guards in the league.

However, the true test to Simmons’ skills will be when the new season starts.

Can he lead the Nets to a playoff berth?

The post Nets HC Gives An Update On Ben Simmons appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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