Oct 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (left) and forward Scottie Barnes (right) before a game against the New York Knicks at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
TORONTO — It’s safe to say just about everyone was left mesmerized by Kawhi Leonard’s reintroduction with the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
How could you not be?
At a baseline, his return to the same franchise he left while at the peak of his powers, and immediately after carrying it to the promised land, was unprecedented.
But the fact he was able to pick up essentially right where he left off, co-leading the Raptors to a 50-point drubbing of the — admittedly short-handed — New York Knicks in his pre-season debut?
Well, that was “awe” inspiring.
A word used on more than one occasion during the team’s post-practice media session on Wednesday when describing the new-but-not-new Raptor.
Rightfully so, considering Leonard chipped in a game-high 21 points, five rebounds and two steals, with 4-of-8 shooting from downtown in just under 17 minutes of action to finish plus-28.
As for who was delivering that praise for the star less than 24 hours after his re-debut, it was his primary running mates on the night, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray Boyles.
“Even watching it, coming off some of the actions that we’re running, him just lifting up and shooting … I think that was one of the awe moments that you can see,” Barnes explained with a smile when I asked him about sharing the floor with Leonard. “He just came up, going to the top, let it fly, kind of like falling away. Yeah, obviously, he’s really good.”
The question was specifically about what part of his game did Barnes feel was made easiest by Leonard’s presence, and he immediately responded with: “Getting downhill. Being able, even in some of the ISO situations, just being able to get downhill. Run in transition, seeing him wide open, just giving him the ball, you know, every time he shoots the ball, it just looks like it was going in every single time. And it feels that way. He’s going to draw so much attention.”
The soon-to-be sixth-year forward finished with 19 points on Tuesday on 8-of-10 shooting to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals for a game-best plus-29. And Barnes’ reflection was astute, considering he went a perfect 4-of-4 in the paint, much of which was through driving lanes available to him while sharing the floor with Leonard.
2 plays to demonstrate Scottie's point:
1. Inverted ball screen, Scottie drives, strong-side corner defender has no interest in stepping into gap/off Kawhi, Scottie gets and-one.
2. Scottie sizes up, spins middle, as he's going up Deuce is looking behind to track Kawhi. Scottie… https://t.co/Ls5Q9LCujm pic.twitter.com/3jCUdvqFVy
— Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh) October 14, 2026
As for Murray-Boyles’ admiration of Leonard, much of his thoughts were focused on the other end of the floor instead.
“There’s nothing that I haven’t seen him do before … but yes, it’s obviously, I’m in awe of his abilities and stuff like that,” the now sophomore said. “His hands are crazy, but he’s my teammate at the end of the day. So just trying to learn from him as much as possible.”
It’s one thing for fans to be astounded by something as specific as a player’s hands, but it’s that much more noteworthy when it comes from another remarkably toolsy forward like Murray-Boyles, who weaponizes his own magnet-like mitts that measure at a width of 10.25 inches.
For context, Leonard’s hands check in a full inch longer than CMB. Or as the 20-year-old so eloquently put it: “They’re huge … I don’t know, that’s some crazy shit. But obviously his hands on defence is just phenomenal. It’s the best I think ever.”
Can you try and put that in perspective for fans to understand?
“No, he’s one of a kind. You can’t really explain something like that.”
Good morning Raptors fans pic.twitter.com/UdHDDpsm7H
— Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh) October 14, 2026
One way Murray-Boyles is presumably hoping to learn from Leonard this upcoming season is how to toggle between positions on the fly and provide true role versatility, even as challenging as that may seem for a second-year player. On some nights Murray-Boyles will be more of a big and on others he’ll handle wing duties. And while he admits that’s going to be a “process,” he’s already making a habit of reminding himself of when to do what on the court.
“Just trying to find the right space in each position. I feel like that’s the biggest thing for me, really getting to that extreme corner, and in transition, knowing when to run in the middle of the floor, when me and Jak are in, when to be up high and when to be in the dunker spot. Just trying to find that space and trying to be aggressive as well. It’s a lot, but it’s gonna be a process throughout the whole season.”
And to say Murray-Boyles is bullish on the Raptors if it all comes together, especially defensively, would be an understatement.
“I don’t think we have a limit to how good we can be if we’re all locked in. I feel like it’s going to be a nightmare for any team if we’re on the same page. But yeah, it’s more mental than our ability.
I feel like even if we didn’t have the best defenders, I think more just being on the same page when it comes to help and rotations and stuff like that. If a player gets beat, we can be there and step up for him. I think that’s going to be our biggest thing to focus on when it comes to how good our defence can be.”
Bold claims, but justifiably so considering the Raptors were already a top-five unit on the defensive end a year ago and have since added one of the best defensive players in NBA history, even if he isn’t quite in his prime on that end.
2 minute chat on a near perfect preseason basketball game
– Kawhi’s triples
– Scottie & RJ looking very good
– CMB doing it all
– Ja’Kobe, very sticky
– Westchester Knicks
– Court changes pic.twitter.com/PA8iPY7jeW
— Samson Folk (the coach) (@samfolkk) October 14, 2026
But make no mistake, as far as the head coach is concerned, Leonard’s addition changes everything but also nothing.
“Our expectations are not changing, our expectations are the same. We’re chasing championships from Day 1,” Rajakovic explained, or rather, pushed back.
I had initially asked the now-fourth-year bench boss about why he felt it was important for him to still give young players grace — like Allen Graves, who Rajakovic praised despite the rookie’s foul trouble in his pre-season debut — even while navigating the raised expectations that naturally come with the addition of a high-calibre player like Leonard and the attached title aspirations.
And while he started his response by quipping back-and-forth with me about “who are the people” that have raised expectations for his team, Rajakovic’s final thought was telling.
“We’re looking to improve our players, one through 15 on the roster, one through 18, every pro player is super important for us. We want to develop those guys, we want to give them opportunities, we want to believe in them and trust them, we want to go out there and win every single game. So whatever expectations you have for us, we have higher expectations, trust me.”
During last season’s playoffs, I had written about how Rajakovic was coaching like someone who had been there and done that, even if it was his first time holding the clipboard on the big stage. And by challenging the notion that expectations have changed after adding Leonard, I think he’s continuing to demonstrate the poise of a coach who remains grounded in his experience and belief in the vision he’s been implementing since joining the franchise in 2023.
At least that’s my read. For Rajakovic, the end goal has always been the same regardless of the personnel or what presumptions have been placed on his team at a given time. He’s been committed to building a championship contender since the beginning, layer by layer. It just so happens that he’s now got the player who can be the cherry on top.