Kawhi Leonard Speaks On His Return To Toronto: "It’s Always Great Memories Coming Into This Arena…"

Kawhi Leonard makes a statement after win in Toronto.

Credit: Kim Klement -- USA Today Sports

As Kawhi Leonard continues his quest to bring a championship to Clipperland, it's hard not to think about what he left behind. Back in 2019, Leonard entered free agency after winning a title with the Raptors.

It was a move that shocked everyone at the time, and he hasn't really spoken about it much since teaming up with Paul George and joining the Clippers.

But after his return to Toronto this week (the second night of a back-to-back), Leonard broke his silence on his former club and expressed gratitude for the fans there.

“It’s always great memories coming into this arena. If I was to miss a game, I would rather give the fans in Toronto a chance to see me play again and that was a part of my decision.”

Kawhi's one season with the Raptors may be one of the greatest individual seasons with any team in recent NBA history. That season, he averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on 49% shooting. Most importantly, he carried the team to a Cinderalla playoff run to pull off one of the unlikeliest title runs ever.

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Did Kawhi Leonard Make A Mistake By Leaving The Raptors?

It took guts to leave Toronto weeks after winning a championship there. And while Leonard might not be regretting his decision, he hasn't come close to replicating the same success in Los Angeles so far.

According to Toronto guard Fred VanVleet, Leonard would have won at least two more rings had he stayed with the franchise in 2019.

The Raptors with Kawhi Leonard emerged as the best team in the league and eventually won the championship after the Golden State Warriors superteam fell foul with injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Leonard would leave Toronto after the title win and join the LA Clippers, but Fred VanVleet believes that the Raptors team could have 3-peated if Kawhi never left.

"3-peat. It was just the perfect group of individuals and we had the right mindset for the roles. I think definitely, we would have won a few more."

It's hard to conclude how accurate VanVleet's statement is, but the Raptors would certainly be in a better position than they're in now with a 15-19 record this season.

Who knows, maybe if Leonard opts out in 2024, he can return to the Raptors and pick up where he left off years ago.

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