Kawhi Leonard Addresses Raptors Fans With Emotional Message Before Return

Kawhi Leonard has never been one to say much about himself publicly, which made the video he released Tuesday ahead of his return to the Toronto Raptors stand out.

Seven years after leaving the Raptors following their championship run, Leonard is back in the city where he delivered the biggest season in franchise history. And while he has downplayed the attention surrounding Wednesday's home opener against the Chicago Bulls, his message to Raptors fans offered a glimpse of what the return means to him.

“People move on. Things change, and even the greatest moments become memories,” Leonard said in the video, as footage from Toronto's 2019 championship run played behind him. “But some things, some things stay with you. What we shared here, that's forever.”

The video revisits the championship parade and the Raptors' series-clinching victory over the Golden State Warriors. Leonard's message acknowledges the time that's passed without spending the entire video looking backward. He closes by talking up Toronto's young roster and the possibility of making another run at a title.

That last part is where the expectations come in.

Leonard's first stint in Toronto lasted just one season, but it ended with him winning Finals MVP and leading the franchise to its first NBA championship. The Raptors moved on after he chose to join the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, and the two sides spent seven seasons apart before Toronto brought him back in an offseason trade.

Now 35, Leonard returns after potentially his best offensive regular season. His health remains an important consideration, but he has said he is feeling good after gradually ramping up during training camp.

Leonard also recognizes that preparing for a long season requires a different approach than it did earlier in his career. Speaking to reporters earlier this week, he said recovery has become a bigger priority as he has gotten older.

“You aren't 20 years old anymore, so recovery is big,” Leonard said, according to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.

For Toronto, the hope is that Leonard can help Scottie Barnes and the rest of the roster compete for another deep playoff run. The team surrendered Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and multiple draft assets to reacquire him, showing how much it believes his presence can change its outlook.

Leonard, meanwhile, doesn't seem particularly interested in making Wednesday night bigger than it needs to be. Asked whether he had thought much about the reception awaiting him, he brushed off the question, reminding reporters that Toronto has 41 regular-season home games before any potential playoff run.

“The fanbase is always great here,” Leonard said, via Wolstat. “But this is going to be more than one game.”

His video offered a more personal message than his comments to reporters typically do. The challenge now is turning that reunion into something that lasts beyond opening night.

Leonard believes the first championship wasn't luck. With the Raptors preparing to begin a new season, he has another chance to show what this group can accomplish together.