While the Toronto Raptors and their fans did everything they could to convince Kawhi Leonard to stay with the team in 2019, former teammate Fred VanVleet says the franchise never stood a chance.
VanVleet told the “Hello and Welcome” podcast that Leonard informed his teammates shortly after being acquired by the Raptors that he hadno intention of re-signingwith the team.
Leonard wound up leading the Raptors to their first-ever championship, being named Finals MVP, but signed with the Los Angeles Clippers just weeks later.
“He did what he came to do,” VanVleet explained. “And he said it from Day 1, ‘I’m not staying here. I don’t know why they traded for me. I don’t want to be here. I’m not staying here.’
“Now, Toronto put their best bid in. The city bowed down like we’ve never seen before. And so, yes, for us regular people, we can look at it and say, ‘How could you leave that?’ But his mind was made up. Kawhi is Kawhi.”
VanVleet, who remained with the Raptors until 2023, believes Toronto would have won “at least two more championships” had Leonard stayed. He has no hard feelings towards his former teammate, though.
“I thank him eternally for helping us win a championship and carrying us to a moment to where I could be solidified and go on to make a ton of money, and we’re forever indebted to him for that... He changed a lot of people’s lives.”
VanVleet is currently sidelined after tearing his ACL with the Houston Rockets in the preseason.
Leonard has been unable to find the same playoff success he had in Toronto with the Clippers, who have exited the playoffs in the first round in each of the past three seasons.
Los Angeles reached the Western Conference Finals in 2021, falling to the Phoenix Suns.