TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard said he is healthy and wants to focus on basketball as he appeared at Raptors media day on Monday, beginning his second stint with the franchise he helped lead to the 2019 NBA championship.
Leonard’s return followed a delayed trade from the Los Angeles Clippers and an NBA investigation into salary-cap circumvention. With the deal now completed, his public message centred on moving forward with Toronto rather than revisiting the dispute.
Yahoo Sports reported that Leonard expressed excitement about being back and described Toronto as a winning environment. His health declaration provides an initial indication of his availability, although training camp and the team’s subsequent updates will determine his workload.
The league investigation had complicated the transaction during the offseason. According to Yahoo’s account, the teams held up the move while awaiting the outcome, then proceeded after the NBA issued its ruling without suspending Leonard.
Toronto subsequently agreed to a two-year extension with the veteran. That commitment makes his return a longer-term roster decision rather than a short reunion built around the memory of one championship season.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic also discussed Leonard’s arrival at Monday’s media availability. In an interview carried by Sportsnet, he expressed excitement about the opportunity to coach him as the team prepares for camp.
Leonard’s first season in Toronto remains the reference point for the reunion. Acquired in 2018, he helped the Raptors win their first NBA title the following June before leaving for the Clippers in free agency.
This return places him in a different team setting. Toronto must now establish how his scoring, defensive assignments and minutes fit alongside its current players, with camp offering the first extended period to build those combinations.
Monday’s news conference did not supply a detailed season-long playing plan. The immediate update was narrower: Leonard said he felt healthy, the trade was complete and he wanted his attention on the Raptors.
For Toronto, that allows preparations to advance from an unsettled summer into the practical work of integrating a familiar star with a roster and coaching staff that have changed since his first stay.
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This page is an original Sporting Page summary. The reporting remains with Yahoo Sports report.
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