Kawhi Leonard is back in a Toronto Raptors uniform, shifting his focus firmly to the future after a two-month delay caused by a league investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers’ salary cap violations. Speaking at the Raptors’ media day, Leonard addressed reporters by reading a prepared statement that bypassed questions regarding the penalty levied against his former franchise, choosing instead to center his attention on his new teammates and the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season.
“I think the best decision is to look forward and put all my focus on the Raptors,” Leonard said during his opening availability. “I was already a distraction for the last 70 days and wasn’t able to meet my teammates and participate in the mini-camp. From now on, I only want to talk about the Toronto Raptors.”
The Return to Toronto and the Shadow of the Investigation
Leonard’s arrival in Toronto was stalled for over two months following an NBA inquiry into the Clippers’ front office. The league investigated a four-year, $176.3 million contract extension Leonard signed with Los Angeles in August 2021. Scrutiny intensified in September 2025 over allegations surrounding a $28 million unrepresented promotional agreement with Aspiration, an environmental firm that collapsed in March 2025 after co-founder Joe Sanberg faced fraud charges. The resulting penalty and subsequent transaction ultimately freed Leonard to return north of the border via trade.
The forward previously spent just a single campaign with Toronto, leading the franchise to a NBA championship in 2019 before departing in free agency to join his hometown Clippers. Despite that short tenure, his impact remains etched in franchise history. Now returning at age 35, Leonard finds himself joining an ascending Raptors squad that reached the Eastern Conference playoffs last season and pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to a decisive seventh game in the opening round.
Reflecting on Family Ties and the Los Angeles Tenure
Looking back at his decade playing in Southern California, Leonard expressed no regrets about leaving Toronto in 2019. He emphasized that returning home allowed him crucial time with aging relatives and young family members during a period marked by personal losses and new additions.
“I’m a family guy. There are several older people in my circle who passed away and with whom I was able to spend good time,” Leonard said. “Seeing newborns, cousins, or nephews was great. Those precious moments with my family make me not think too much about basketball.”
On the court, however, Leonard acknowledged a growing frustration with the competitive climate in Los Angeles. While the Clippers reached the Western Conference Finals in 2021, they also suffered three first-round playoff exits across his seven seasons with the organization. Last year, the Clippers finished with a 42-40 record and missed the postseason entirely, despite Leonard putting up a stellar individual campaign. He averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 65 regular-season appearances, earning a selection to the All-NBA Second Team.
Chasing a Winning Culture in the Eastern Conference
Entering the 2026-27 season, Leonard made it clear that his primary motivation is competing for a championship in a high-pressure environment. He believes the current Raptors roster provides exactly that type of atmosphere as they look to build upon last year’s postseason run.
“I need pressure, a winning situation,” Leonard said. “I want to win. I want to be in a position to win. I like being in a winning environment and I think that’s what I’m going to find here.”
Head coach Darko Rajakovic indicated that the coaching staff will implement a careful management plan to keep Leonard healthy throughout the schedule. Maintaining availability remains a central priority for Toronto as they integrate their star forward into an active roster that features Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Kyle Anderson ahead of the upcoming campaign.
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