Kawhi Leonard is officially returning to Toronto, with the Raptors expressing their excitement after completing the trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Raptors general manager and executive vice-president Bobby Webster welcomed Leonard back and emphasized his previous impact on the franchise.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kawhi back to Toronto. His impact on our organization, our city, and our country is undeniable, and he embodies the competitiveness and championship mindset that we value,” Raptors general manager and executive vice-president Bobby Webster said in a statement by the team.
“We believe his leadership, experience and talent will help us as we continue building toward our next championship. We also want to thank Brandon and Gradey and appreciate their work ethic, character, and basketball excellence they brought to our team every day.”
Toronto also marked the reunion on social media, posting Leonard in a Raptors uniform with the caption “He back.”
The trade was delayed while the NBA conducted an 11-month investigation into Leonard and the Clippers over salary-cap circumvention.
The league eventually punished the Clippers by stripping five first-round picks and issuing a $30 million fine. Leonard was fined $700,000, while Dennis Robertson was banned from NBA business dealings for five years.
Leonard previously spent one season with Toronto, leading the Raptors to their first NBA championship in 2019 and earning Finals MVP honors.
He then joined the Clippers, where his deepest playoff run came with an appearance in the 2021 Western Conference Finals.
Seven years after leaving Toronto, Leonard will now begin his second stint with the Raptors.
