Being a man of few words has very much become Kawhi Leonard's brand over the years. Therefore, his goodbye message to the Los Angeles Clippers faithful being what it was should surprise no one.

"I truly appreciate your unwavering support during both the highs and lows," Leonard said in an Instagram post. "Thank you, Clip Nation."

After the turmoil surrounding his departure, Leonard's one-sentence sentiment as he exits is oddly fitting. Because in many ways, everything has already been said. All the information is out in the open. Only closing the doors on this chapter remained. Leonard slammed it shut.

Leonard's career will come full circle when he pulls on the Toronto Raptors jersey again this fall. 

His Clippers legacy will be debated until the end of time. Was it a failure? Did he hold up his end of the bargain? There likely isn't a right or wrong answer. It really depends on who you ask.

When the Clippers were acquiring Leonard, fresh off his NBA championship run with the Raptors, they were envisioning a different crescendo to this story. Owner Steve Ballmer's long-term vision was filled with championship banners hanging in the Clippers' shiny new Intuit Dome arena.

The scandalous salary cap circumvention ordeal that put the period on Leonard's time in Los Angeles was as far from what everyone involved imagined this fairytale turned horror as possible.

However, when you peek under the hood, Leonard himself was as excellent as advertised as a Clipper. But was it worth the price that will now need to be paid for the next half-decade or so? Clipper fans would likely say no. 

You cannot bring up Leonard's name without putting 'All-Timer' next to it.

Though the Clippers did not reach the ultimate heights they intended to with him in the fold, the organization will remember his contributions forever. That is without question.

Over six seasons in LA, Leonard averaged 25.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game — never shooting less than 47 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three-point range.

Leonard was also the anchor at the other end of the floor year after year, if his health allowed — boasting a pair of NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors.

He was named to the All-NBA First Team once and the All-NBA Second Team thrice. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and the inaugural winner of the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award in 2020.

As a Clipper, he led the franchise to its first-ever Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021. He averaged 30.4 points per game on 57.3 percent shooting from the field before tearing his ACL in the semifinals against Utah. It was the toughest of breaks for Leonard and the Clippers — arguably the biggest what could have been of his tenure.

Leonard holds the Clippers' single-game scoring record, tied with James Harden. He poured in 55 points against the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 28, 2025. 

In 2025-26, Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game. By doing so in his 14th season, he became the first player in NBA history to set a career-high average in scoring this late into their career.

Leonard was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team while on the Clippers.

Leonard, 35, now returns to Toronto to team up with Scottie Barnes.

Leonard famously led the Raptors to their and Canada's first-ever NBA championship during his single-season stint with the team in 2018-19. The Raptors took down the dynastic Golden State Warriors 4-2 in the Finals, with Leonard winning the Finals MVP after averaging 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.

With the feat, Leonard joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players ever to win the award with multiple franchises.

If Leonard has it his way — while he is still playing at an elite level — he will do it all over again in Toronto, putting a bow on what is already a surefire Hall of Fame career.