Fred VanVleet didn’t sugarcoat it. When it comes to Kawhi Leonard’s lone season with the Toronto Raptors, the former Raptors guard shared a candid, behind-the-scenes look that pulls back the curtain on one of the most iconic runs in franchise history. And while Raptors fans will forever cherish the 2019 championship, VanVleet’s recent comments offer a reminder: Kawhi was never planning to stay.
Appearing on the “Hello and Welcome” podcast, VanVleet opened up about the 2018-19 season - a campaign that ended with Toronto hoisting its first-ever NBA title. But as VanVleet tells it, Leonard made his intentions clear from the very beginning.
“He said it from day one… I’m not staying here,” VanVleet recalled. “From day one, [he said] ‘I don’t know why they traded for me.
I don’t want to be here. I’m not staying here.’”
That’s a tough pill to swallow for Raptors fans who watched their city embrace Leonard like a hometown hero. From the moment he arrived in Toronto via the blockbuster trade that sent DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio, the city rolled out the red carpet. The team, the fans, and the organization gave everything they had to make Leonard feel at home - and for one unforgettable season, it worked.
Toronto’s gamble paid off. The Raptors finished the regular season with a 58-24 record, good for second in the Eastern Conference.
They were elite on both ends of the floor, a balanced, battle-tested squad built for postseason success. And when the playoffs arrived, they delivered.
Toronto powered through Orlando in the first round, survived a seven-game slugfest against Philadelphia (thanks to that shot from Kawhi), and took down a loaded Milwaukee Bucks team in the Conference Finals. Then came the Finals - and the Raptors outdueled the dynastic Golden State Warriors to capture the title. It was a storybook ending, even if the next chapter didn’t include Kawhi.
Leonard’s departure to the Los Angeles Clippers just weeks after winning Finals MVP stung. But as VanVleet made clear, it wasn’t a surprise in the locker room. Kawhi had always been upfront - he was there to compete, to win, and then to move on.
Still, VanVleet holds no bitterness. In fact, he credits Leonard for helping elevate his own career.
“Kawhi is Kawhi. I thank him eternally for helping us win a championship and carrying us to a moment where I could be solidified and go on to make a ton of money,” VanVleet said.
“We’re forever indebted to him for that. I’m just thankful we got the job done.
He changed a lot of people’s lives.”
Fred VanVleet reveals that Kawhi Leonard had NO INTENTIONS to stay in Toronto 😅
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 15, 2025
“I don’t know why they traded for me [Kawhi Leonard]. I don’t want to be here. I’m not staying here.”
(via @hellowelcomepod)
pic.twitter.com/UUhE1EbUKY
And he’s not wrong. That 2019 run didn’t just bring a trophy to Toronto - it reshaped careers.
VanVleet himself went from undrafted underdog to a key playoff contributor, eventually landing a major contract and carving out a respected role in the league. He left the Raptors for the Houston Rockets in 2024, while Leonard has remained with the Clippers since his move in 2019.
Both players have moved on, but their impact on that Raptors team - and that moment in Canadian sports history - is permanent. No matter how brief Kawhi’s stay was, it delivered the ultimate prize. And for Raptors fans, that banner in the rafters will always speak louder than a short-term commitment.
Toronto still hopes to get back to that level one day. But until then, the 2019 title remains the gold standard - a season defined by risk, reward, and one of the most unforgettable playoff runs the league has ever seen.