NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: CLIPPERS vs SUNS

April 20, 2023

Lawrence Frank

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you help us the timeline from Game 1 to Game 2?

LAWRENCE FRANK: Yeah, sure. He had it at the end of Game 1. It's the Playoffs, so he wanted to fight through it. Obviously was able to play through Game 2.

Symptoms got worse after Game 2, and we ruled him out for tonight.

Q. What was the discussion...

LAWRENCE FRANK: Yeah, obviously, look, if we weren't comfortable with him playing, we wouldn't have. But, like I said, after the game, things didn't get better, they got worse. So we ruled him out for tonight. Just kind of take it day by day.

In these type of injuries, you feel so bad for him. I mean, everything that he puts into (indiscernible) ACL, but everything he's put into his craft, literally the Playoffs, these are the moments he lives for. You feel horrible for Kawhi that he's out for tonight. We'll take it day by day.

Q. (No microphone.)

LAWRENCE FRANK: We'll literally take it day by day and kind of see how he responds to treatment.

Q. How frustrating is it? You've done everything to build this team up for those moments.

LAWRENCE FRANK: My heart and empathy is really with Kawhi, just like it was with Paul because a lot of times when injuries happen, typically that's the question: How does the organization...

I think sometimes what gets lost is how incredibly disappointed, frustrated the players feel when they can't perform, especially in these moments, this is what they live for.

I feel horrible for Kawhi that he can't play tonight. And yet our guys, the tenor and personality of our team. They are excited for the opportunity. They feel horrible that Kawhi can't compete tonight. But they look forward to the opportunity.

Q. (No microphone.)

LAWRENCE FRANK: Look, you can imagine. He's extremely, extremely disappointed he is not going to play tonight. He desperately wants to play. Like I said, it's day by day (indiscernible) practice.

Q. When you call it a knee sprain, you saw last month Paul's injury, is there any way that you can that this is not the same thing that Paul is dealing with or...

LAWRENCE FRANK: Yeah, I mean, it is a knee sprain. Won't go into symptoms or anything in detail. We'll just (indiscernible).

Q. What does he have to do to get cleared, whether movement...

LAWRENCE FRANK: Yeah, I think I'll refer to our medical staff, just kind of how he responds to treatment (indiscernible) exactly what the specific measurements are.

Q. (No microphone.)

LAWRENCE FRANK: Look, I think he's established. Come Playoff time, I mean, I think those of you who have obviously watched him play... For the better part of the second half of the year, he's played virtually ever game than back-to-backs. The guy is playing at an unbelievably high level. To be honest with you, has gotten back to the levels that he was if not better.

He desperately, desperately wants to play. This is the Playoffs. This is what these guys live for, especially him, where he takes his game, I mean, he's one of the few players in the history of this game, the highest level of players, that his game just gets better and better.

He's extremely disappointed. Everything that he puts into this game, I've never seen a player put this much into his craft. So he's extremely disappointed and frustrated he can't play tonight.

Q. (No microphone.)

LAWRENCE FRANK: You just kind of control what you can control. I mean, the schedule is what it is. You just deal with it. Like I said, just do everything we can to win tonight.

Q. (No microphone.)

LAWRENCE FRANK: Look, he desperately wants to play. Like I said, he's not cleared to play.

Q. (No microphone.)

LAWRENCE FRANK: Well, yeah, I mean, he's not cleared to play, so...

Q. (No microphone.)

LAWRENCE FRANK: Yeah, I mean, I don't really think it's probably a fair comparison to (indiscernible). One is Kawhi was dealing with injuries. Sometimes work gets lost when he misses games. He didn't mean to land on Amir Coffey's ankle and roll his ankle, tear his ACL.

Like, to me he's been dealing with injuries. And for better part of the second half of the year he's played and he's played at an extremely high level. I don't think the two are connected.

Q. (No microphone.)

LAWRENCE FRANK: Yeah, I mean, he's made progress. But his recovery time hasn't changed because Kawhi is out tonight. He continues to work his butt off and make progress daily. So day by day.

Thanks, guys. Have a good night.