Manu Ginobili: ‘We have to think that he’s not coming back’

The San Antonio Spurs continue to operate under the assumption that star forward Kawhi Leonard will not return over the final 11 games of the regular season.

Leonard showed up at the AT&T Center for the team’s annual picture but wasn’t present minutes later when the Spurs took part in their shootaround ahead of Wednesday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards.

“He is not coming back,” veteran guard Manu Ginobili said. “For me, he’s not coming back because it’s not helping [to think Leonard is returning]. We fell for it a week ago again. I guess you guys made us fall for it. But we have to think that he’s not coming back, that we are who we are, and that we got to fight without him. That shouldn’t be changing, at least until he is ready for the jump ball.”

Source: Michael C. Wright of ESPN