Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard showed flashes of brilliance in his debut with the team on Saturday, finishing with 12 points, three assists and one steal in 19 minutes of action.
“I think everybody saw Kawhi, he was shaking off some rust, right?” coach Nick Nurse asked postgame, according to Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. “But you can obviously see the level that he has and I think he looks like we’re all running around really fast and he gets it and everything goes into slow motion. It’s kind of a gift for guys that are as good as him and it’s neat to watch, too.”
Leonard was traded to the Raptors in July after a tumultuous end to his stint with the Spurs. He missed most of last season due to injury, with Saturday’s preseason game marking his first contest since January.
“I think it’s just going to take on-court minutes, getting the experience together, going out there and playing and getting a feel for the overall team, the overall game that he likes to play,” Kyle Lowry said of Leonard. “And the pace. We played at a really good pace tonight. It was a fun game, just good to get out there and compete against another team.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Sixers guard Zhaire Smith was admitted to the hospital on Thursday after suffering an allergic reaction, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Smith had a thoracoscopy, with tests returning negative. He did not travel with the team to China.
- The Celtics are opting to bring rookie Robert Williams along slowly, A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston details. “You can’t be amazed the whole game,” Williams said. “I had to put that to the side. I saw a couple nice moves by Kemba [Walker], but I want to block that [expletive]. That’s the mentality I’m supposed to have.”
- David Aldridge of The Athletic explains how the Sixers named Elton Brand the new general manager of the team, tasking him with continuing the franchise’s ascension.
Masaj Ujiri has his glass full with Kawhi, if he doesn’t get Jimmy or Marc by the deadline Kawhi will be a Clipper. Kawhi is not going to stay in Toronto to play with this roster, no disrespect to the team they have which is certainly playoff bound but they are far from a contender.
Marc Gasol? How are they pulling that one? Just dont see the Griz wanting an of Torontos parts, Wolves I can see. Like Valanciunas + whatever else doesnt make the Griz good enough long term or bad enough short term.
If competitiveness was an issue then he certainly would stand a better chance of doing that in Toronto vs the Clippers.
To be fair he would be playing with spare part with the clips also. Raptors have a younger better core than the clips. If it was just basketball reasons compelling Lenard, raptors over clips everyday. But we don’t really know with him anyways.
We know what his weird uncles think lol.
You sure about that? Gilgeous-Alexander,Robinson,Harrell, and Harris will all be pretty good. Plus they could sign Kawhi and another star if they want. Plus he gets to play in LA.
Wow Dionis, this is nonsensical even for you. Two late lotto rookies, an average nba rotation player, and a solid nba starter on his 4th team are not “pretty good”. The only thing the clippers have over Toronto is the fact that they play in LA. Their roster is worse, their playoff chances are worse, and their road to a title is damn near impossible. The only argument that can be made for being appealing is that they are in his home town…but is that really enough?