Kawhi Leonard enjoyed the warm embrace of Raptors fans in his regular-season return to Toronto.
Leonard had 23 points, six rebounds and four steals as the Raptors earned an emphatic 135-92 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday in Toronto’s home opener. Leonard, who had already played a pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena earlier this month, said he could feel the difference.
“These games count on your record, and it was a bigger turnout tonight than the first game,” said Leonard, whose stretched-out hand was emblazoned on the chest of T-shirts draped over the back of all 19,800 seats in the arena. “It was good fan support. We left them some shirts, you know, with my hand on it.
“It’s just different. It’s a different atmosphere, especially when the season starts.”
It was Leonard’s first regular-season appearance for Toronto since 2019, when he led the Raptors to their only NBA championship.
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He signed with his hometown Los Angeles Clippers that following off-season. L.A. traded him back to Toronto this past summer, although the deal was delayed as the NBA investigated Leonard and the Clippers for salary cap circumvention.
Because of the trade’s delay, Leonard is still working into game shape and head coach Darko Rajakovic implied pre-game that the 35-year-old forward would be on a minutes cap.
Rajakovic pulled Leonard early in the fourth with Toronto holding a 40-point lead but the two-time Defensive Player of the Year asked to be put back in.
“I (didn’t) get a chance to play a lot in training camp, so any minutes I could get or continue to play (are important),” said Leonard. “I know it’s blowing them out, but the goal is to try to get 23, 24 minutes tonight.
“I just need more reps to learn plays … this is where you get better. You get better on the floor and trying things and shooting a ball when you’re open, you can’t wait until practice and just shoot 100 shots. You need game reps.”
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The 35-year-old Leonard is a two-time NBA champion and was named Finals MVP both times. He’s a seven-time all-star and was named to the All-NBA Team seven times.
He averaged 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.4 blocks over 65 regular-season games last year with the Clippers and was named to the NBA’s second all-star team.
A career 49.9 per cent field-goal shooter, including a 39.1 per cent three-point shooter, Leonard was uncharacteristically inefficient against the Bulls. He made five of his 17 field-goal attempts, including going 2 for 6 from beyond the arc.
“I thought that the shots that he was getting were really good shots. He’s still building his capacity to play,” said Rajakovic. “I really love the fact that he asked to play more minutes in the fourth quarter just to get his legs under him.
“That’s just part of the process. But every minute that he spends on the court, that capacity is going to just go up.”
The excitement surrounding Leonard’s return was palpable as soon as the gates opened at Scotiabank Arena.
“Honestly, I still can’t believe it,” said Omar Rohilla of Brampton, Ont. “Every time I see him in a Raptors jersey, I feel like I’m looking at AI.
“I just can’t believe he’s back. I’m just excited.”
His father Aftab Rohilla, wearing a matching Leonard jersey, agreed.
“Awesome, awesome, man,” he said. “I hated it when he left, but the return’s going to be sweet for sure.”
All-star forward Scottie Barnes gave a pre-game introduction welcoming fans back for the new season. He opened his remarks by saying “What it do baybee,” a reference to a viral Instagram post shared by former Raptors forward Serge Ibaka back in 2019 where Leonard coined the catchphrase.
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Ibaka was in the crowd on Wednesday, as was rapper Drake, Toronto Tempo all-star Marina Mabrey, several members of the Toronto Argonauts, and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s leadership group including majority owner Edward Rogers and president Keith Pelley.
Fans roared during the singing of “O Canada” when Leonard was featured on the in-house cameras with his head reverently bowed during the national anthem.
Jack Poon and Cecilia Lau of Aurora, Ont., said that the excitement around the home opener reminded them of the last time Leonard played for the Raptors.
“It’s 2019 all over again,” said Poon. “(We bought these tickets) specifically for tonight because it’s his comeback tour. It’s the same feeling.”
Lau said she had high expectations.
“Of course, win again,” said Lau. “When I woke up I put on my 2019 championship hat and the winning T-shirt.”
