Kawhi Leonard, the star basketball player, is making a highly-anticipated return to Toronto after his historic stint with the Raptors that led to the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship. Let’s take a look back at some key moments from Leonard’s time with the Raptors and his recent trade back to Toronto:
In July 2018, Leonard was acquired by the Toronto Raptors along with Danny Green in a major trade with the San Antonio Spurs, which saw DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a first-round draft pick heading the other way.
During his time with the Raptors, Leonard made a lasting impact, including his memorable “I’m a fun guy” comment during his introduction at Raptors media day in September 2018. His debut game in October 2018, where he scored 24 points in a victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, marked the beginning of an impressive journey with the team.
One of the most iconic moments came in May 2019 when Leonard hit a buzzer-beater shot against the Philadelphia 76ers, propelling the Raptors to their first Eastern Conference final appearance. This culminated in June 2019 when Leonard led the Raptors to victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6, securing the franchise’s first NBA title and earning the NBA Finals MVP title.
Despite his success with the Raptors, Leonard left for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, where he faced challenges with injuries but continued to showcase his talent, notably averaging a career-high 27.9 points in the 2025-26 season.
Fast forward to June 2026, the Raptors struck a deal to bring Leonard back to Toronto, trading for him in exchange for players and draft picks from the Clippers. After some delays due to the NBA’s investigations into the Clippers, the trade was finally made official in September 2026, marking Leonard’s return to the team that he helped secure an NBA championship.
