Fred VanVleet has never been one to hold back, and in a recent appearance on the Hello and Welcome podcast with Will Lou and Alex Wong, the former Raptors point guard offered a candid look behind the curtain of Toronto’s 2019 championship run - and the short-lived Kawhi Leonard era that defined it.
VanVleet, who holds the Raptors' single-game records for both points and assists, didn’t mince words when reflecting on Leonard’s arrival and exit. According to VanVleet, Leonard made his intentions clear from the jump.
“From Day 1,” VanVleet recalled, “I ain’t staying here.” That was Leonard’s message to his new teammates - blunt, direct, and unmistakable.
“I don’t know why they traded for me. I don’t want to be here.
I’m not staying here.”
It’s a striking admission, especially considering how perfectly Leonard fit into that Raptors team. VanVleet acknowledged as much, calling the pairing a “perfect match” and giving Leonard full credit for doing exactly what he was brought in to do - lead the franchise to its first NBA title.
“He changed a lot of people’s lives,” VanVleet said. And there’s no doubt about that.
Leonard’s postseason run in 2019 was the stuff of legend - from the iconic Game 7 buzzer-beater against Philly to the Finals MVP performance against Golden State. That championship run elevated careers, shifted legacies, and forever altered the trajectory of the franchise.
VanVleet himself went from undrafted underdog to a household name, eventually becoming an All-Star and securing major contracts, the latest with the Houston Rockets.
But even in the afterglow of that historic title, VanVleet couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if Leonard had stayed. “We could have won at least two more championships,” he said, pointing to the core’s chemistry and talent.
But he also admitted that Leonard likely saw what was coming - the cracks that would form in the post-title version of the Raptors. “He saw the writing on the wall early,” VanVleet noted, hinting that Leonard’s decision to leave may have been as much about foresight as it was about fit.
Now with the Rockets - and currently sidelined with a torn ACL - VanVleet has shifted some of his energy into media, launching his own podcast, Unguarded. But make no mistake, he’s not done on the court. He made it clear he’s still eyeing a return this season, and with Houston adding Kevin Durant and making noise in the West, there’s plenty of motivation to get back.
VanVleet’s journey - from undrafted free agent to champion, All-Star, and now podcast host - has always been defined by honesty, resilience, and a refusal to sugarcoat the truth. And in revisiting the Kawhi era, he didn’t just share a headline-worthy soundbite. He gave fans a glimpse into the reality of a championship team that, for all its glory, was always built on borrowed time.