Kawhi Leonard doesn’t usually give us much to work with when it comes to headline-worthy quotes. But when he does speak candidly, it tends to resonate-and that’s exactly what happened during All-Star Weekend 2026.
While reflecting on the Raptors’ 2019 championship run and giving Norman Powell his flowers for earning his first All-Star selection this year, Leonard offered a line that stopped people in their tracks:
“Everybody comes into their own. But, you know, the talent wasn’t there, but the work ethic was.
And that’s the reason why we won. Everybody thought they were better than they were and competed at a high level every night.
And I’m happy for him, especially for Norm, even trying to get here.
He was able to leave here and still make a contribution to the Heat. And he made it, so I’m happy for him.”
The phrase that echoed across the NBA? “The talent wasn’t there.”
In 2026, that feels like a wild thing to say about a Raptors roster that now reads like a who’s who of All-Star appearances and postseason accolades. But Leonard wasn’t taking a shot-he was offering a window into how that team saw itself at the time. And when you look closer, he wasn’t wrong.
A Roster That Aged Like Fine Wine
Let’s run it back for a second. That 2019 Raptors squad now looks absolutely stacked in hindsight:
- Kyle Lowry: Eventually a four-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist.
- Pascal Siakam: Four-time All-Star by 2026.
- Fred VanVleet: Earned an All-Star nod of his own down the line.
- Marc Gasol: Already a Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Star before arriving in Toronto.
- Danny Green: Finished his career with three NBA titles.
- Serge Ibaka: Still a productive big with a championship pedigree.
- Norman Powell: Now an All-Star in Miami.
- OG Anunoby: One of the league’s premier two-way wings.
And of course, Kawhi Leonard himself-Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and the engine behind that title run.
But in 2019? That group wasn’t viewed the way we see them now.
OG Anunoby didn’t play a minute in the Finals due to injury. Gasol was past his prime.
Ibaka wasn’t the same rim protector from his OKC days. Green was mostly a 3-and-D role player.
VanVleet and Powell were gritty rotation guys, not stars. Siakam was still in the process of becoming “Spicy P,” and even Lowry-while respected-wasn’t typically mentioned in top-tier superstar conversations.
Leonard was the alpha. He carried the load with 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game during the regular season, and he was even better in the playoffs.
Lowry chipped in with 14.2 points and 8.7 assists. Siakam added 16.9 points, Ibaka posted 15.0 and 8.1, and VanVleet contributed 11.0 per night.
It was a balanced attack, but not one built on overwhelming star power. And that’s the point Leonard was making.
Built on Grit, Not Glitz
Toronto wasn’t a superteam. They didn’t have three max-level guys or multiple MVPs. What they did have was structure, accountability, and a defensive identity that could travel anywhere.
The Raptors went 56-26 that season, finishing third in the East. They ranked fifth in both offensive and defensive rating, and their net rating was third-best in the league.
This was a team that knew who it was and how it wanted to play. They were disciplined, versatile, and willing to grind out ugly wins when the moment called for it.
And in the playoffs, they proved it.
- Beat Orlando in five.
- Survived a brutal seven-game war with Philly, capped by Leonard’s iconic, four-bounce buzzer-beater.
- Came back from 0-2 to beat Milwaukee in six.
- Took down a banged-up but still dangerous Golden State squad in six games to win it all.
Yes, the Warriors were dealing with injuries. But Toronto still had to execute. And they did-on both ends, night after night.
Kawhi’s Quote in Context
So when Leonard says, “The talent wasn’t there,” he’s not rewriting history or throwing shade. He’s pointing out what made that team special: they weren’t supposed to be that good.
They didn’t have the most All-Stars or the flashiest names. What they had was a locker room full of guys who believed they were better than the world thought-and played like it.
They worked. They competed.
They bought in. And they won.
Since then, many of those players have grown into stars. Their resumes have aged well. But in that moment, in that run, they were a group of overachievers with a chip on their shoulder and a belief that they could shock the world.
And they did.
So Kawhi’s words? They weren’t dismissive-they were a reminder.
That title wasn’t handed to the Raptors because they were the most talented team. They earned it because they squeezed every drop out of what they had.
That’s not an insult. That’s the ultimate compliment.