Toronto Raptor Kawhi Leonard spoke to reporters Monday ahead of the upcoming season. This is the first time fans heard from the star after he signed a two-year contract with the team last week, reportedly worth US$115 million. The deal to send the seven-time NBA All-Star back to Toronto from the Los Angeles Clippers was agreed to in June, but only finalized earlier this month while an investigation into salary-cap circumvention by Leonard and the Clippers took place. L.A. got Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round picks in exchange. Leonard joined the Clippers as a free agent following the Raptors’ first-ever NBA championship in 2019. He averaged 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.4 blocks per game with the Clippers last season. Here’s everything Leonard said at Monday’s news conference: How does Leonard see himself as part of this Raptors group? Leonard said he wants to be a leader for this young group of Raptors. “I definitely have to be a leader, lead by example, and also just be that you know extra eye, ear on the floor for Darko when I’m in a battle because he’s not able to play. Obviously, he wants to, but yeah, yeah. I’ll be leading, trying to help guys get better, the rookies, anybody that needs help, you know I’m here. You know, good teammate, cool dude. So I think they could, you know, reach out to me at any time. Text messages or calls or even on the floor.” What did Leonard think of the ‘Ka’Wine and Dine’ promotion? Back in 2019, a number of restaurants took part in an initiative called “Ka’Wine and Dine,” to keep Leonard in Toronto by offering the star free food for life if he stayed with the team. “The city took a liking to me even before we won a championship. You know, people were thanking me for you know just how great I was playing and just leaving the Raptors at the time to like a historic playoff run. But I want to know who told him I like to eat? I’m older now, so I can’t eat as much. So I gotta stay locked in. But now I appreciate it. Just shows you their gratitude and you know how much they appreciate me. Thank you guys. Thank you for the “Ka’Wine and Dine.” People use it, you know, back home. So it’s a funny thing, especially when my friends pay. I definitely tell them to “Ka’Wine and Dine.” Regrets about leaving Toronto? Asked if he thought the Toronto Raptors could have secured a second championship in 2020, Leonard admitted he doesn’t give “what ifs” much thought. “Maybe, but you know, I really don’t go back and think too much about it, because when you think the next year was COVID, like, and you know, I kind of made my decision to go to LA based off my family. Like, I’m big family guy. Had a lot of older people, you know, in my family that I was able to spend time with that passed away. So, and just seeing babies be born that are cousins and nieces, you know that was all great for me, and I can’t take that back. Like those times, I cherish and to be able to see family and hug them before they pass or go away. It doesn’t make me think about the basketball aspect of it too much.” ‘I’m not embarrassed about it’: Leonard looks back on viral laugh Leonard went viral when he was first introduced to Raptors fans back in 2019, describing himself as a “fun guy” before letting out a robotic-sounding laugh. Asked for his thoughts on the moment, Leonard said he has no regrets. “If I can make people laugh with my laugh, that’s okay with me. I’m not doing nothing, you know, harmful or anything. And personally, like I’m not embarrassed about it. “You know, we were talking about making a little show. ‘Let’s see who got the funniest laugh,’ through the microphone for the most part, just to see if somebody could top mine, but yeah, I mean, whatever brings joy to you guys, you know, have fun with it. Like I said, I’m not embarrassed by it. I’m not gonna stop laughing just because people think it’s funny.” On playing with Barnes Leonard said he’s looking forward to playing with Scottie Barnes, especially because of his “defence-first” style of basketball. “I could play off anybody. I could catch and shoot. I played with limited shots before, you know. So I think the offensive end is just going to take care of itself once we get out in transition and run ... Scottie’s a great passer. You know, he could dribble the ball up the court at his size. So I think it’ll work out well.” ‘I’m feeling good’: Leonard on injuries Leonard said he is “feeling good” heading into this season, despite a history of lower-body injuries. “Out of the last two or three years, I was an all NBA player. Played the 65 games. Played 65 last year. So hopefully this year I could play more, and you know, even build on that, adding games in the playoffs, and you know, making that run long as well. But currently, feeling good, feeling healthy, and you know, God willing, hopefully I could keep going that way.” Reflections on building a legacy in Toronto Asked about his legacy in Toronto, and how he plans to build on the success of 2019, Leonard said: “A big part of it was you know the fans’ legacy, like you say, us doing something, doing the impossible here, and you know just the energy of the city. I really enjoyed it...like just the energy and the people is just like why I wanted to come back. The fans always gave me a liking. Coming back to play in that arena, the relationships that I have here. My son was born out here, so he always loves and like, ‘Oh, when we come back to Canada ... What flag is that?’ So you know, now he’s back home, so he even seems more happier.” 2019 vs 2026 Raps Asked how this current Raptors lineup stacks up against the 2019 championship roster, Leonard said he’s looking forward to being part of the young group. “Obviously, that team was a veteran team, 59 wins. This is a different group ... The team played amazing last year. Obviously, Scottie leading with Scottie. You know, B.A. did a great job for the team as well. Shead, R.J. Quick, young fellas like C.M.B. Some shooting from Ja’Kobe. They played great basketball. They made it to the playoffs, Game Seven. Just a competitive young young group that defends first runs out in transition, and think I could benefit from that. So you know, like I said, I’m excited to play with them. Decided to start training camp and learn from everybody, and just become better. I like the coaching staff. I like Darko a lot, so you know we’ll see what happens.” ‘I’m excited to be back’ Leonard opens up his remarks by saying he’s “excited” to be back in Toronto and that it’s time to “move forward” from the NBA investigation.
