Gasol wants Spurs fans to think twice before criticizing Leonard

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SAN ANTONIO – Spurs center Pau Gasol has been playing with a painful right shoulder ever since he suffered an AC sprain in the win over Memphis on March 5.

"It's still sore. It's going to be sore," Gasol said after shootaround Saturday morning. "I didn't really let it heal properly. You risk that the injury lingers, but it's fine. It's not too bad. It allows me to play and I am able to get better little by little."

While Gasol is playing with pain, some fans are criticizing Spurs two-time All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard for sitting out most of the season with a right quadriceps plagued by tendinopathy.

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But Gasol has a message for those fans: Think twice before you criticize Leonard.

FILE PHOTO: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs still not playing talks with teammate LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs during game against the Orlando Magic at AT&T Center on March 13, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) less FILE PHOTO: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs still not playing talks with teammate LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs during game against the Orlando Magic at AT&T Center on March 13, ... more Photo: Ronald Cortes/Getty Images Photo: Ronald Cortes/Getty Images Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Gasol wants Spurs fans to think twice before criticizing Leonard 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

"We humans tend to make a mistake of judging without knowing," the 17th-year pro said. "So we don't know exactly what Kawhi feels or has felt or has going on. I think you always have to honor people's ethics and morals and desire to play and do what you are supposed to do."

Gasol and his teammates, who are fighting for their playoff lives, haven't ruled out the possibility of Leonard returning before the regular season ends April 11.

Leonard has played in just nine games this season. His last action came Jan. 13.

Reports surfaced last week that Leonard would return for Thursday's game against New Orleans, which the Spurs won 98-93. But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich revealed Tuesday that Leonard hasn't received the green light to play yet from the "medical staff that he's seeing."

"And until that gets cleared, we can't make a decision on when he's coming back," Popovich said. "So once he gets cleared, then he and I can sit down and talk and see what we think about an appropriate time to come back. But that clearance has to be obtained first."

Gasol said he and his teammates remain supportive of Leonard.

"We want to have a positive mentality about it and not be critical," Gasol said. "It's not going to do any good (to be critical). We hope at some point, coming down the stretch, all the work he has done individually and throughout the season pays off and he can help us at the end. Hopefully, sooner rather than later because we don't have much left and we are in a pretty tough position.

"(But) again, we have all been patient and understanding. It must be hard for a guy that is as talented as Kawhi is to have a season like this and to be in the position he is in. All we can do is support him and encourage him and hope that at some point he comes back to help us."