The Toronto Raptors are already getting the championship treatment from NBA 2K27, and the video game has them doing it with Kawhi Leonard back in the fold.
In a simulation run by NBA 2K ambassador Ronnie Singh, Toronto rolled through the 2026-27 season and finished with a franchise-best 61-21 record. The Raptors were also dominant at home, going 34-8 at Scotiabank Arena while claiming the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
From there, the path only got more dramatic. Toronto knocked off the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic in the East playoffs before reaching the Finals, where the matchup was set against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. That series went seven games, and the Raptors won Game 7 at home.
If that scenario ever played out in real life, it would be the kind of result that would fuel Canadian basketball for years.
The simulation did not give Leonard his third Finals MVP. That honour went to Scottie Barnes, who delivered a 36-point triple-double in the deciding game.
Toronto picked up more hardware too. Darko Rajaković was named Coach of the Year after guiding the team to 15 more wins than the previous season.
There was, however, one huge wrinkle that makes the whole thing look a little less believable: Leonard was projected to play all 82 regular-season games. He has never done that in his career. In the simulation, there was no load management, no missed games and no nights off, just Leonard staying healthy every step of the way and averaging 18.5 points and 5.9 rebounds.
If that happened, Raptors vice-president of player health and performance Alex McKechnie might deserve some MVP votes too.
NBA 2K’s track record has at least earned a little respect. Last year’s simulation was close, correctly predicting the Thunder would meet the New York Knicks in the Finals, though the real champion ended up being the Knicks after the Spurs knocked Oklahoma City out in the Western Conference Finals.
So the latest forecast should probably be taken with a grain of salt. Still, even an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals would be a finish plenty of Raptors fans would happily sign up for.
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Raptors Are Counting On Jakob Poeltl To Solve One Big Concern
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Poeltl has been working with a specialized strength and conditioning coach to manage the pain and improve his mobility, and the Raptors are betting that the effort pays off over the long haul. The issue is less about what he can do in flashes and more about whether his body will let him sustain it, because Torontos big-picture plans at center depend on him looking like a reliable every-night option again. [Read more 🡒]
Kawhi Leonards Raptors Return Still Comes With One Big Limitation
Kawhi Leonards return to Toronto carries the familiar buzz that comes with a championship-level talent, but it is still being shaped by the realities of where he is in his comeback. After missing 17 games last season, Leonard has spent the early part of this stint with the Raptors focused on his health and on settling back into the team following his trade, even as the organization has committed to him with a two-year contract extension.
There is also the lingering backdrop of the Clippers investigation and the cap circumvention case that led to a $700,000 fine and an apology, though Leonard has made clear he is not spending much time on it. For Toronto, the bigger immediate issue is more practical than procedural, because the team is still easing him back rather than asking him to carry everything at once. [Read more 🡒]
Scottie Barnes Sounds Ready For The Offensive Role Raptors Wanted
Scottie Barnes arrived at Raptors media day sounding like a player ready to change the way he approaches the game. For much of his early run in Toronto, the natural instinct has been to read the floor, move the ball and keep the offense flowing. Now there is a clear push for him to lean into the scoring side more often, in step with what fans and observers have been asking for as the Raptors look for a more dynamic source of offense.
Barnes is expected to have a more assertive role next season, with the conversation around Toronto starting to shift toward a more balanced offensive structure rather than one simple hierarchy. Kawhi Leonard remains the established top scorer, but Barnes willingness to take more shots and create more pressure on defenses could give the Raptors a different kind of problem for opponents. The unanswered question is how far that aggression can go once the games count and Toronto starts sorting out who really drives the offense possession to possession. [Read more 🡒]