Photo: David Zalubowski, Associated Press Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Darren Abate, FRE / Associated Press Photo: Ronald Cortes/Correspondent Photo: JERRY LARA / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Jerry Lara /Staff Photographer

SAN ANTONIO – Manu Ginobili is defending Kawhi Leonard's decision to remain out even though the Spurs medical staff has cleared him to return.

"Nobody is in his body," Ginobili said Thursday. "He feels the way he feels, and we don't know. Yeah, we know he has been cleared. But, again, if he is feeling pain, isn't sure, he is not ready to come back, then he's not."

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Ginobili said he is confident that Leonard, who has played in just nine games this season while recovering from right quadriceps tendinopathy, is "doing his best" to return.

But Ginobili has adopted a pragmatic approach when it comes to whether Leonard will return this season.

"If he is back, awesome. And if he is not, awesome too," Ginobili said. "We just have to fight with what we have."