Kawhi Leonard Articles - Page 68

Kawhi Leonard made his Toronto Raptors debut Saturday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, and it didn’t take long for the superstar small forward to get in the scoring column. After missing his first shot of the game, which was a long 3-pointer that came at the end of the shot clock, Leonard scored his […]

The biggest questions for the Toronto Raptors surround Kawhi Leonard. Will he stay their long-term? Is he happy to be in Toronto? Will he be able to finally lead the Raptors to their first appearance in the NBA Finals? These are all valid questions but first, how will Leonard and Kyle Lowry fit together on […]

Whenever Kawhi Leonard laughs, it’s an event. So when the Toronto Raptors swingman let out an awkward cackle that proved he’s not a robot bereft of feeling any human emotions during Monday’s NBA media day, people on the internet went hog wild. But those who’ve been watching Leonard closely throughout his rise to basketball superstardom […]

The Toronto Raptors went through their first official practice of training camp on Tuesday morning that saw All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard take a significant step forward by partaking in the practice for the first time since eight months. Following his first session with the team, Leonard voiced to reporters that he felt good physically, according […]

Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry had been dodging calls and texts from team officials, including president Masai Ujiri and new head coach Nick Nurse after the franchise traded his best friend, small forward DeMar DeRozan — according to a report from Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. The Raptors traded DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs […]

Following the arrival of Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri doesn’t want to hear how little pull the city has when it comes to attracting players to play there. “The narrative of not wanting to come to this city is gone. That’s old talk,” said Ujiri on Monday’s Media Day, according to Ryan Wolstat […]

Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry has recently exhibited how he is a true model professional. It was one of the busiest and ugliest summers in the history of the franchise, but the 32-year-old guard made it abundantly clear where his loyalty remains. When asked about what type of mindset he will have following a tumultuous […]

Newly acquired All-Star Kawhi Leonard sat down with members of the Toronto Raptors media on Monday for his first official appearance since joining the team. Leonard was asked to describe himself to the fans in Canada who might not know him that well. Keep in mind that Leonard is a quiet kind of guy. He […]

Kawhi Leonard spoke to the media for the first time since last season, claiming he doesn’t regret the saga that unfolded upon his quad injury, causing his trade from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors earlier this summer. “I have no regrets. Want to stay in the present, not look back,” said Leonard […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is not concerned about Kawhi Leonard’s health heading into training camp, noting that it’s “all systems go” heading into training camp, according to Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun. Leonard has looked good health-wise, but the Raptors are expected to closely monitor him throughout the season, according to Eric […]

There was once a time that height was might in the NBA, with franchises needing a talented big man to anchor a successful run in the league. Nowadays, the thought seems like ancient history with the modern space and pace game of the NBA. As the game leans toward being more positionless and guard-centric, the […]

The L.A. Clippers are emerging as a front-runner for Toronto Raptors small forward Kawhi Leonard if he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Leonard is widely expected to decline his 2019-20 player option with the Raptors and enter the open market. The two-time […]

Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Jimmy Butler is most determined to find a way to play for the L.A. Clippers, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. It’s been earlier reported that Butler has requested a trade from the Timberwolves. The appeal of partnering with a second star in Los Angeles is an intriguing […]

If history serves as precedent, Jimmy Butler’s trade list may not make much of a difference when it boils down to where the Minnesota Timberwolves may trade their All-Star wing, as noted by Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report. https://twitter.com/highkin/status/1042471802390274048 Butler just requested a trade away from Tom Thibodeau and the Timberwolves, joining Kyrie Irving and […]

Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri knows what he bargained for and won’t create false expectation of his star addition Kawhi Leonard. The Klaw has been historically a quiet player who often doesn’t say more than what’s necessary, and at times he’s even painfully quiet when media inquires for further depth in a subject. “He’s a quiet […]

Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri expressed confidence in star point guard Kyle Lowry getting past the heartbreak of seeing former backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Ujiri said he wasn’t surprised by Lowry’s reaction to the trade, but “is confident he’ll be a pro and lead the team once camp opens, […]

Despite the short time between the trade that shook the NBA world this offseason, Kawhi Leonard is expected to return to Toronto and join the Raptors for training camp shortly, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN. President Masai Ujiri indicated that his star forward would be “ready to roll” by the start of camp, saying […]

The trade of then-San Antonio Spurs All-star wingman Kawhi Leonard for All-star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan was one the biggest things to impact the NBA landscape. The two-time All-star and former NBA champion is one of the best two-way players in the league when healthy. His addition immediately catapults them beyond contender status to one […]

Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. thinks that the Toronto Raptors could convince Kawhi Leonard to buy into their organization long-term. The deal that sent Leonard to Toronto and DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs was the most surprising trade of the offseason. Many thought the Raptors got the short end of […]

Kawhi Leonard is going to be the biggest free agent on the market in the summer of 2019, and while many won’t like it, it’s going to be talked about for the entire 2018-19 season. Will he stay with the Toronto Raptors? Will he join LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers? Will he join […]

LeBron James is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Kawhi Leonard is with the Toronto Raptors. Anthony Davis and Julius Randle are a dynamic new front court. And in Boston, the Celtics return Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. The NBA landscape has drastically changed and with it, brand new possibilities arise. The Golden State Warriors unlocked […]

The Toronto Raptors took a major gamble by trading for Kawhi Leonard. The team had no assurances that Leonard would sign a long-term deal to remain in Toronto, but they pulled the trigger on the deal anyway. Well, the team could be rewarded for their gamble. According to Marc. J. Spears of The Undefeated: “The […]

The San Antonio Spurs mulled potentially trading Kawhi Leonard to teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and the Philadelphia 76ers — but neither team was willing to offer what the franchise demanded. Turns out that San Antonio was looking for an immediate return, and in the case of the Sixers, the franchise […]

Toronto Raptors swingman Kawhi Leonard was putting in work this summer, as a recent photo saw him posing next to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant in what could be seen as an omen for those hoping he stays in Toronto past this 2018-19 season. While Bryant has been known to help plenty of people, […]

Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri has a big task ahead of himself, needing to lock down his newest acquisition Kawhi Leonard after he becomes a free agent by the end of this upcoming season. Ujiri’s plan is far from complex, just to be as genuine as possible and sell him on the culture he’s helped […]

The Raptors trade for Kawhi Leonard isn’t exactly solid ground for the franchise. Aside from moving their former All-star in DeMar DeRozan, a first rounder, and a young big man talent in Jakob Poeltl, Leonard committing for the long haul is still a lingering question for the team. It is a given when healthy Leonard […]

As another season is set to unfold, the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in a precarious position that could undermine their championship aspirations. Superstar shooting guard Jimmy Butler, whom the team acquired via trade in 2017, recently declined a max contract extension that would pay him $110-million over four years. Reported rifts with several young teammates suggested […]

Moving Kawhi Leonard to the North is one of the boldest and arguably the biggest trade splash that has happened recently. Being mired in playoff limbo for quite some time now, this move is expected to catapult them into the Finals by acquiring one of the best two-way players in the league. Moving former Raptor […]

A trade between the San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers involving Kawhi Leonard and Markelle Fultz looked possible at points during the offseason. As it turns out, there doesn’t seem to be any evidence that the Spurs wanted Markelle Fultz. ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on The Lowe Post podcast: “There is no evidence that the […]

The Golden State Warriors are the pioneers and gold standard when it comes to concocting a devastating positionless lineup. The Death Lineup, as it is rightly called, has killed the competition en route to three championships so far. Since its proven success, other teams are following suit on modern positionless basketball on their lineups. While […]

New Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard is looking to reach new heights, and it looks like he has the dedication and discipline to do it. All of the best players who dominate the NBA have legendary work ethics. Kobe Bryant was known for his unending workout regimen, shooting jumpers at 3 A.M. after losses. LeBron James is […]

Many expect the Toronto Raptors to walk on eggshells around Kawhi Leonard this season for fear of losing him in free agency. Some believe the organization will cater to Kawhi and do everything in their power to keep him in Toronto long term. But according to The Athletic’s Eric Koreen, Leonard’s past coaches don’t think […]

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard’s college coach at San Diego State, Steve Fisher, saw Leonard as a secondary player while he was recruiting the future NBA superstar, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. But Fisher didn’t see this as a bad thing. He told Koreen: “He played second fiddle to some of the other guys. […]

Putting aside all the drama that surrounded the superstar last season, Kawhi Leonard is primed to have a major comeback season this year with the Toronto Raptors. His former assistant coach in San Antonio can attest to how Leonard’s extraordinary physique makes him one of the most unique players in the league right now. Eric […]

The hopes of the Toronto Raptors could hinge on the relationship between Kawhi Leonard and Nick Nurse. Leonard is an intimidating figure, and Nurse knows that if the organization has any chance of retaining the All-Star for the long haul, the coach will have to develop a bond with the mercurial star. According to Eric […]

Toronto Raptors superstar forward Kawhi Leonard is known for his shyness, but did you know of his superhero like ability to make eye contact? Relax, friends. This will all make sense in a second. Steve Fisher, Leonard’s college basketball coach, was recently interviewed by The Athletic. There were a ton of neat nuggets dug from the […]

Toronto Raptors forward Danny Green was plenty optimistic about his still-teammate Kawhi Leonard, as both wings were traded from the San Antonio Spurs as part of the fallout of Kawhi-gate. Green spent some time with The Klaw in San Diego and felt confident he’d make a return to full health, considering that he only played nine games […]

Despite only nine games of sample size throughout a drama-plagued 2017-18 season, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard still came in at No. 12 in Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 NBA players ranking. Leonard was ranked fourth last season, even after suffering a quad injury that prematurely ended his season during the 2017 Western Conference Finals, but […]

Toronto Raptors forward Danny Green is hoping teammate Kawhi Leonard will stick around with his new team for longer than a season. In the latest episode of his own Inside the Green Room podcast, the sharpshooter raised hope that The Klaw would succumb to the city’s charm and the fans’ roaring support. “I don’t know where […]