Kawhi Leonard didn’t waste any time reminding Raptors fans what he can do.
After sitting out Toronto’s first two preseason games, Leonard made his debut in the team’s third exhibition Tuesday against the New York Knicks and went straight to work. By halftime, the Raptors were rolling with nearly a 40-point cushion, and Leonard had already put up a performance that looked awfully familiar to anyone who remembers his championship run in Toronto.
In just 17 minutes, Leonard led the Raptors with 21 points. He added five rebounds and two steals, while going 6-of-12 from the floor, 4-of-8 from deep and 5-of-7 at the line.
Toronto brought Leonard back this offseason in a trade with the LA Clippers, the same team he joined in free agency in 2019 after winning the franchise’s lone NBA title with the Raptors. His return came after a recent NBA investigation into cap circumvention involving Leonard and the Clippers ended with a $70,000 fine for Leonard. Once that process was finished and the penalty was issued, the trade became official.
Leonard, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, is now entering his 15th season. He had previously spent just one season in Toronto after arriving in a 2018 trade. Last season with the Clippers, he played 65 games and logged a little over 32 minutes per game, posting career highs across the board with 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 50.5 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from 3-point range and 89.2 percent from the free-throw line.
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