If the San Antonio Spurs are going to make a deep run in the playoffs it looks like they will have to do it without one of their best players, as head coach Gregg Popovich cast doubt on the return of two-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard this season.

“On Kawhi, I'll be surprised if he returns this season,” Popovich told the media.  “We only have "X" number of games left this season, and he's still not ready to go...and if by some chance he is it's going to be pretty late into the season and it's going to be a tough decision - how late to bring somebody back.”

"That's why I'm trying to be honest and logical, I'll be surprised if he gets back this year."

After having a late start to the 2017-18 campaign due to a quad injury, Leonard has only appeared in nine games this season for the Spurs.  In those contests he averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

"Well we've got to move on," Popovich said.  "The team has to realize this is who we are, this is who we have, this is who is going to play. Wishing and hoping doesn't do anybody any good. We've got to do what we can to be the best team possible as the season winds down."

Leonard was coming off back-to-back all-star seasons, where he averaged over 20 points a game each year.  

The 26-year-old is a two-time defensive player of the year and was also the 2014 Finals Most Valuable Player, as he helped lead the Spurs to an NBA Championship.

The Spurs are currently third in the Western Conference.