Kawhi Leonard only played 60 regular season games and 24 playoff games with the Toronto Raptors, but it was a season Raptors fans will never forget as he helped the franchise capture its first ever NBA title.
The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has already played against his former team this season, but that game took place in Los Angeles. On Wednesday night, Leonard returns to Toronto for the first time since the team won the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy and it’s a night every Raptors fan has had circled on their calendar since the schedule was released.
With tip-off just under 24 hours away, the Raptors got things started a little early by releasing a Kawhi Leonard tribute video.
Usually when a player leaves a team for another team in the offseason, fans quickly turn on the player. However, considering what Leonard was able to accomplish during his short stay in Toronto, we’re guessing the two-time NBA champion is going to get a standing ovation and hardly any boos from the home crowd once he makes his way onto the hardwood.
Kawhi Leonard had a career-year with the Raptors as he averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game during the regular season, and went on to average 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game during the postseason before capturing his second NBA Finals MVP.
(H/T Twitter/Raptors)
