Kawhi Leonard is expected to make his first trip back to Intuit Dome early.
The NBA released its 2026-27 schedule Thursday, and one date jumped out right away for the LA Clippers.
Toronto will visit Intuit Dome on November 2, putting Kawhi Leonard on track for a quick return to the building he called home.
Leonard has spent seven seasons with the Clippers since leaving Toronto in 2019, but that run now looks close to over.
LA agreed to send him back to the Raptors this summer, though the deal is still waiting for final approval.
For the first time, Clippers fans know when they may see Leonard on the other side, and the date should be one of the biggest nights on LA’s home schedule.
Where Both Teams Stand
The Clippers finished last season 42-40 and missed the playoffs after losing to the Golden State Warriors in the Play-In Tournament.
Toronto went 46-36, finished fifth in the Eastern Conference and then pushed Cleveland to seven games in the first round.
Leonard remained one of the NBA’s best scorers, averaging a career-high 27.9 points with 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 65 games.
That kind of season explains why Toronto was willing to offer Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a large group of draft picks, a package that would help the Clippers build a younger roster.
The return would finish LA’s summer reset by adding more wings and future picks around Darius Garland, while Toronto would get the top scorer it needs.
Why the Trade Is Still Expected to Happen
The deal is paused while the NBA investigates whether the Clippers went around the salary cap through Leonard’s $28 million endorsement agreement with Aspiration.
Toronto chose to wait after the league said any later punishment tied to Leonard’s contract would become the Raptors’ problem once the trade was complete.
The wait has raised questions, but it has not changed the deal.
Both teams still expect it to go through, and Leonard believes he will join Toronto before training camp.
The Raptors just want the league to finish its work first.
A suspension would not end the agreement. Only the far less likely step of voiding Leonard’s contract would make the trade impossible.
What Leonard’s Reception Could Be
Leonard will likely hear both cheers and boos at Intuit Dome.
Some fans will thank the Southern California native for choosing the Clippers, leading them to their first Western Conference Finals and delivering several great seasons.
Others will remember the injuries, the investigation and the championship run that never came.
That split response would fit an era that brought real progress without delivering the championship fans expected.
Whatever the response, November 2nd now looks like the night the Clippers can finally close this chapter.
If the trade holdup ends as expected, Leonard’s first game back will feel like much more than a normal early-season matchup.
