Sources: Leonard still not cleared by his doctors, advised to stay in New York

FILE: Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge watch the Spurs against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 1, 2018. The Spurs forward remains in New York to rehab the quad injury as his team continues their first-round playoff series with the Warriors. less FILE: Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge watch the Spurs against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 1, 2018. The Spurs forward remains in New York to rehab the quad injury as his team continues their first-round ... more Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Sources: Leonard still not cleared by his doctors, advised to stay in New York 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

OAKLAND, Calif. – As the Spurs search for answers following a 113-92 Game 1 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, Kawhi Leonard's whereabouts and status continues to make headlines.

The Spurs forward remains in New York to rehab the quad injury that has kept him out of action in all but nine games this season.

Though some are undermining Leonard's motives, sources tell the Express-News his medical staff still have yet to clear the 26-year-old two-time Defensive Player of the Year, recommending he continue to sit out.

In collaboration with Spurs officials, Leonard followed through with a plan to travel back East earlier this month in hopes of receiving clearance to return to. But though progress is noticeable, doctors Leonard sought for a second opinion about his quad injury are still not ready to approve his return to play with the feeling he needs additional rehab under their supervision.

Though national reports suggest Leonard and his camp decided to leave the team, sources told the Express-News the Spurs also suggested Leonard remain in New York to rehab following his routine checkup from doctors.

Leonard also continues to be monitored by two team officials while away in New York, and he's provided the Spurs with constant updates on his status since being sidelined once again since Jan. 15 before the Spurs played the Atlanta Hawks.

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Said Leonard on March 7 about any possible miscommunication with the Spurs regarding his status: "I talk to Pop every day. He knows what the progressions were. He knew what I was doing the whole entire time, as well as the front office. So, it wasn't just me going out and saying, 'I'm going to go and do this.'

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"We're taking the right steps," Leonard added. "We don't want to take any steps back to aggravate things."

The Spurs have yet to list Leonard out for the season, electing to send out daily injury reports listing Leonard in the "return from injury management" protocol. Leonard has not joined the team in Oakland and likely will not appear on the team bench once the series shifts back to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4 as continues focusing on his rehab program in New York.

"I'm a competitor," said Leonard last month. "If I could play, I'm going to go out and play like I did in the nine games just to test (the quad) out."

Asked if the teammates would prefer Leonard with the Spurs even if he's not ready to play, Patty Mills said he would prefer if Leonard focuses on getting healthy.

"I don't know if he'll be able to do that if he's in this environment," Mills told reporters at the Spurs' media availability on Sunday. "In saying that, the support is always going to be there from him no matter where he is around the country. We support him getting healthy."

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As the friction surrounding Leonard's status continues to build, league sources have criticized the Spurs' handling of their superstar forward, noticing the team's lack of effort to protect his image as he's recovering from the most challenging injury of his career.

Some league executives believe the Spurs will receive plenty of phone calls about Leonard's status this offseason, with the feeling the team will not offer a five-year, $219 million extension, but yet part ways with Leonard.

"It would be a mistake," one Western Conference league executive told the Express-News when asked about the possibility of the Spurs trading Leonard.

In the nine games Leonard has played this season, he averaged 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds. He made his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 12, and had his best game (25 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in a season-high 30 minutes) in a Jan. 2 win over the New York Knicks.

The Spurs will play the Warriors in Game 2 on Monday night before traveling back to San Antonio.