Kawhi Leonard is back on the court and he isn’t wasting any time, dropping a cool 21 points in just 17 minutes for the Toronto Raptors’ preseason opener after settling a massive scandal with the league. The trade that brought him back to Toronto finally went through once the NBA investigation wrapped up, and Leonard wasted no time showing why he’s still one of the best, absolutely lighting it up in a dominant 148-98 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
A Stunning Return to Form in Toronto
Talk about making an entrance. Even with Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic putting him on a minutes restriction, Leonard made every second count. He went 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, hitting a perfect contested 3-pointer early on for his first field goal back in a Raptors uniform. The Scotiabank Arena faithful were absolutely buzzing, and why wouldn’t they be? This guy is a legend there. He kicked off his scoring with a pair of free throws, but that three-ball was the real highlight. Rajakovic was hyped before the game, telling the CBC, “It’s very special that it’s happening right here at home, not on some road game, but actually playing in front of our fans in Toronto. I think it’s a very special day for him. Very special day for us. We’re super excited to get him on the floor and to play.” Leonard was the game’s leading scorer even though he didn’t even play in the second half. Five Raptors hit double figures, and the team shot an insane 57% from the field, cruising to a 50-point victory.
The Scandal, The Trade, The Comeback
This return is even wilder considering everything Leonard has been through. He was dealt to the Raptors earlier this offseason, but that trade was on hold while the NBA investigated a massive cap circumvention scandal involving him and the Clippers. The league found that the Clippers and Leonard had circumvented the salary cap through deals with third-party companies. The fallout was huge: the Clippers lost five first-round draft picks, owner Steve Ballmer got a one-year suspension and a $30 million fine. Leonard himself was slapped with a $700,000 fine for his part in it. Despite the fine, Leonard wasn’t suspended from playing; reportedly, the league didn’t have enough evidence for that move. Once the NBA revealed its findings and punishments, the trade finally officially went through, clearing the way for his debut. And just last month, he signed a two-year, $115 million extension with the Raptors.
What’s Next for the King of the North?
It was just a preseason game, sure, but what a statement. Leonard spent a single season with the Raptors back in the 2018-19 campaign, and we all know how that ended: he led them to their first and only NBA Finals win, earning Finals MVP honors along the way. He then signed with the Clippers and had been with them ever since, until all this drama. Now, he’s back in a place where he’s had so much success, clearly ready to get back to business. This performance hints at big things to come for the Raptors and their fans, especially with Leonard looking so sharp so early after everything that’s gone down. The NBA is definitely watching to see if this is just the beginning of another legendary run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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