In a summer filled with All-Star players moving across the country to new NBA teams, one of the bigger transactions from this past week’s jam-packed roster movement revolved around nostalgia and extended beyond just the United States.
Kawhi Leonard is back on the Toronto Raptors. The LA Clippers sent him there in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a bundle of draft picks. Fresh off a career season, the 35-year-old hopes to add happy memories to the one fanbase he delivered for and left on good terms.
The re-marriage makes sense for both sides. Let’s just say Leonard’s time in LA didn’t go exactly to plan. He failed to stay healthy in his six seasons there. While the Clippers made their first Western Conference Finals in 2021, that being the peak obviously falls short of their aspirations — pun intended.
Meanwhile, the Raptors have been stuck in no-man’s land since Leonard left them with their first NBA championship in 2019. They’ve hovered around mediocrity with no deep playoff run to show for it. Scottie Barnes was an awesome addition, but the rest of their draft record since then has been a little meh.
Not only will Leonard’s return put butts in seats, but it catapults the Raptors all the way to the top among East contenders. Of course, with the added caveat that he can stay healthy. He averaged a career-best 27.9 points this past season in 65 games. That led him to an All-NBA appearance.
After Canada picked up a 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifier win over Puerto Rico, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander talked about Leonard’s return to the Raptors. There’s a non-zero chance that the Oklahoma City Thunder faces his favorite team growing up in the 2027 NBA Finals because of the seismic move.
“As long as I can remember, Toronto has loved the Raptors, the country’s loved the Raptors. I don’t think that will ever change, no matter who plays for them,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But adding a guy like that to your roster, no matter where you’re from or what team you are, amplifies everything — your fanbase, your ability as a team on both ends of the floor. He’s a really good player. Toronto should be a good team next year.”
It’ll be fun to see if Leonard’s return to the Raptors provides some sorta spark for the NBA franchise that desperately needs it. Things were getting kinda stale there. Meanwhile, the Thunder will forever have an affinity for Leonard and his help to their one NBA championship — possibly more.
After all, it was Leonard who twisted LA’s arm to trade away Gilgeous-Alexander and basically all of their draft picks this decade for Paul George to team up. And as that All-Star duo epically fell on its face, the Thunder slowly built up a title contender whose window remains wide open.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacts to Kawhi Leonard’s reunion with Raptors
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