Leonard still feeling the love in Canada
VANCOUVER— Canadians continue to be stereotypically polite to former Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard. The latest example came Thursday when Leonard made his Canadian homecoming with the Los Angeles Clippers for a pre-season game in Vancouver. But it wasn’t the first time the reigning NBA Finals MVP got a warm greeting from Canucks since leaving Toronto.
“Just going around in the summertime, even after me signing with the Clippers, Canadians came up to me and they said thank you for everything I’ve done,” Leonard said after the game against the Dallas Mavericks. “They’re very nice people.” Leonard became one of Canada’s most popular athletes last season as he led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA championship, averaging 30.5 points per game in the playoff run.
Hopes were high that the success would entice the 28-yearold to continue playing up north, but Leonard opted to join his hometown Clippers in free agency, reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $103-million (U.S.) contract.
Still, Canadian basketball fans showered him with love on Thursday, cheering boisterously when he jogged out for warm-ups and repeating the cheers every time he hit a shot in the Clippers’ 102-87 loss to the Mavericks.
A similar scene greeted the team as players walked through Vancouver’s streets before the game, said Clippers rookie Terance Mann.
“Definitely a lot of fans here. It was nice to see, especially for Kawhi,” he said. “It was awesome to see him come back to Canada and everybody give him a warm welcome.”
As the pre-season comes to an end, there’s one piece of business still outstanding for last season’s NBA championshipwinning Raptors: raising the title banner to the rafters.
That will happen Tuesday, when Toronto hosts the New Orleans Pelicans in the season opener. Leonard will be in California, preparing for the Clippers’ battle with LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers that night.
“I’m going to probably check it out,” Leonard said.
His focus, however, has turned to the season ahead.
For weeks now, the Clippers have been working out in training camp, building systems and creating new bonds.
“You just know personalities, so you just get more comfortable talking to people, knowing what they like, they know what I like and just going from there, pretty much,” Leonard explained.
One prominent face has been missing from on-court drills, however. Paul George, who came to the Clippers this offseason after being recruited by Leonard, has resumed training after undergoing surgery on both shoulders during the off season.