TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard is officially a member of the Toronto Raptors again, and the future Hall of Famer is grateful to be back with the franchise.
Cameras went behind the scenes to capture Leonard’s first day back with the Raptors, who acquired the swingman from the LA Clippers.
“I’m not really championship-chasing, trying to find the best team I could win,” Leonard said. “I didn’t wanna put on a thousand jerseys. The city took a liking to my family. I took a liking to the city. Really enjoyed it.”
The Clippers traded Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-round picks.
Leonard, 35, has one year left on his contract. The Raptors are widely expected to sign him to an extension.
A San Diego State product, Leonard will make $50.3 million next season.
Leonard’s First Raptors Stint Ended With A Championship
Leonard requested a trade from the San Antonio Spurs and was traded to the Raptors for DeMar DeRozan in July 2018.
The Raptors won 58 games during the 2018-19 season and were the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
Leonard averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game and made the All-Star team, the All-Defensive Second Team and the All-NBA Second Team during the 2018-19 season.
Behind Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry, Toronto defeated the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks to reach the 2019 NBA Finals, where the Raptors faced the back-to-back champions, the Golden State Warriors.
Toronto beat Golden State in six games to capture its first NBA championship. Leonard won Finals MVP after averaging 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in the six-game series.
Leonard’s Clippers Tenure Falls Short Of NBA Finals
In the summer of 2019, Leonard left the Raptors in free agency for the Clippers, who acquired Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Leonard and George were teammates in Los Angeles for five seasons and never reached the NBA Finals.
The Clippers went to the Western Conference Finals in 2021, but they lost to the Phoenix Suns. Leonard tore his ACL in the second round against the Utah Jazz.
George, who now plays for the Boston Celtics, left the Clippers for the 76ers in the summer of 2024.
Leonard appeared in 331 regular-season games and 35 playoff games with the Clippers, who went 217-114 in the regular season and 17-18 in the playoffs when Leonard played. LAC has never been to the NBA Finals in franchise history.
A top-75 player of all time, Leonard holds career averages of 20.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game in the regular season and 21.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in the playoffs with the Spurs, Raptors and Clippers. He’s a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Star.
Raptors Pair Leonard With Talented Core
Toronto lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2026 playoffs in seven games.
The Raptors now have a talented core of Leonard, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles.
“Hopefully they embrace me back and give it my all again, and hopefully we can make something special happen once again,” Leonard said.
