Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard speaks at the Raptors media day in Toronto on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker
TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard will play in his first game tonight since returning to the Toronto Raptors.
He’s in the starting lineup as Toronto hosts the New York Knicks in a pre-season game.
Leonard had previously played for the Raptors in the 2018-19 season, leading them to their only NBA championship.
He then signed a lucrative free-agent deal to join his hometown Los Angeles Clippers.
L.A. traded him back to Toronto this past off-season in a deal delayed by an NBA investigation into Leonard and the Clippers for salary cap circumvention.
Leonard 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 Los Angeles.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2026.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press