Kawhi Leonard is still NBA Champion although he no longer plays for the Raptors. He will return to Toronto next week for the first time since signing with the Los Angeles Clippers this past summer. He will be receiving his championship ring in the city and it will be an emotional rollercoaster. The reigning Finals MVP made a statement loud and clear that he will be focused on winning against his former team.
“We’re there for one reason: to play the Raptors and try to win the game.”
“I’ll be thinking about just playing against the team and wanting to win the game, for the most part,” said Leonard, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. “Just really getting my ring that night. … We’re there for one reason: to play the Raptors and try to win the game.”
In Leonard’s first 16 games with the Clips, the 28-year old forward is averaging 25 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals per night. Kawhi and the Clippers currently hold the second best record in the Western Conference at 16-6, trailing only LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Raptors have won 15 of their first 20 games thus far and “Spicy P” has turned out to be a rising star for the defending NBA Champs. The team gets ready to battle Kawhi Leonard and The Clippers on December 11. That game, airing on ESPN, is scheduled to tipoff at 7:00pm ET.
