Kawhi Leonard Returns to Raptors, Cites Family and City Affection

Kawhi Leonard has expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the Toronto Raptors, emphasizing that his decision was not driven by a pursuit of championships but by a connection to the city and his family.

"I’m not really championship chasing trying to find the best team I could win (with)," Leonard said in an appearance on the Raptors’ Open Gym YouTube channel. "I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys. The city took a liking to my family, I took a liking to the city. Really enjoyed it. My son was born here and he’s been asking me forever when he’s going to come back."

The trade that sent Leonard back to Toronto from the Los Angeles Clippers was delayed due to an NBA investigation into the Clippers' violations of salary-cap rules. The league released its findings and penalties on Monday, allowing the blockbuster deal to be finalized.

Leonard, who was fined $700,000 in connection with the Clippers' salary-cap scandal, is reportedly already in Toronto preparing for his second tenure with the team. He previously led the Raptors to an NBA championship in 2019, earning Finals MVP honors.

This time, however, Leonard indicated he does not intend to be the primary leader of the team. "I’m not here to take over anything," he stated. "I’m just here to win. If it’s Scottie’s team, it’s his team."

The Raptors have placed Leonard's locker adjacent to that of Scottie Barnes, the team's emerging star. Leonard had remained largely silent publicly since the NBA's investigation into the Clippers began.