Kawhi’s back in Toronto and he hasn’t changed a bit
As usual, Leonard gets right to the point because he’s back in town ‘to play a game’
There’s probably never been a bigger media turnout for a regular-season morning shootaround in Toronto than the circus that showed up on Wednesday. All that was missing was a big top, some bears, clowns and jugglers.
But there’s also never been a bigger superstar to toil for the Toronto Raptors than Kawhi Leonard, so it was only right that 100 or so media members swarmed the lower bowl near the Raptors’ locker-room at Scotiabank Arena awaiting his arrival.
Usually it takes a conference final series to draw that large a number of regulars, drop-ins and international correspondents for a morning availability.
One by one, Los Angeles Clippers players and staffers sauntered in, and nearly all of them either stared, wide-eyed at the throng, muttered something, or came ready with a joke.
Clippers assistant Sam Cassell, who broke into the NBA in 1993 and has seen and said it all, quipped: “Y’all here for me?”
Clippers head coach Doc Rivers quickly made a load-management joke.
Asked if there was any chance Leonard would be held out, Rivers replied: “You keep asking me questions, he will,” before confirming the obvious, that he was just joking around.
There was no way Leonard was going to miss this one after being rested against Indiana earlier in the trip. It seemed fitting that even though it’s been a mild, mostly precipitation-free winter so far, the temperature dipped significantly and flurries of snow touched down to welcome Mr. Garage to Garage (one of Leonard’s catchphrases, which referred to him not going outside in the winter here) back to Toronto.
Rivers arrived as a player back in 1983 and teamed with the likes of Dominique Wilkins, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson, so he knows the type of attention superstars can command, especially ones like Leonard, who delivered Canada its first Big 3 sporting title since 1993 with one of the greatest playoff runs the NBA has seen.
“I assumed it would be a lot because it should be. He did a lot here and it’s a big story,” Rivers said.
When it was his turn to talk, after a pit stop to say hello to some old friends in the Raptors’ room, Leonard was his usual self. Cooperative, but short and to the point.
“I’m happy to be back, excited to get the (championship) ring tonight, but we’re here to play a game. That’s how I feel,” Leonard said.
“This is my first time back in the city since the parade. Obviously those flashbacks come back driving over to the arena. Of course, it’s a little different tonight, but we’ll see,” he said.
Interestingly, Leonard said he anticipated a fair bit of vitriol from the fans, but not because he left, simply because of the jersey he’s now wearing.
“I mean, there will be some cheers, but definitely I think more boos because they want to win the game. They’re not going to be cheering for a player on the opposing team. They’re still rooting for the Raptors,” Leonard said.
Rivers had a different prediction on what would happen.
“He’ll get a great one (reception). He fulfilled his promise, you know,” Rivers said.
“I don’t know if he promised a championship, but he fulfilled it anyway.
“I think it will be an amazing reception.”
Leonard received his custom bauble in a pre-game ceremony. Though he had seen the rings long ago thanks to a Facetime session with Kyle Lowry, he knew this would be different.
“I think it looks nice. I want to see it in person so it can come full circle,” he said earlier in the day.
There are varying theories on whether there was ever a real chance of Leonard re-signing with the Raptors last July, but on Wednesday he made it seem that it was a scenario very much in play.
“I gave it a big consideration,” said the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
“I took my time, I didn’t hurry up and make a quick decision. I talked to the front office (in) deep detail. It was a hard choice to make.”
In the end, Leonard went home.
But for at least one day, his old stomping ground must have felt a lot like home, too.
This is my first time back in the city since the parade. Obviously those flashbacks come back driving over to the arena.