Kawhi Leonard 's run with the Toronto Raptors during the 2018-19 season was one for the ages. Although he played in only 60 regular-season games due to a rigid load management plan that aimed to ensure his body would hold up for the postseason, he still averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game to earn All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive Team honors.
The real coup de grace, though, came in the postseason, as Leonard brought his game to another level, averaging 30.5 points and 9.1 rebounds to lead the Raptors to the promised land, defeating the vaunted Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals to claim the coveted championship.
With a core of Kyle Lowry , Fred VanVleet , Norman Powell , Jonas Valanciunas and young OG Anunoby , the Raptors had the pieces not only to defend their title but to contend in future seasons.
Yet less than a month after celebrating in Toronto, Kawhi signed a multi-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers , prompting the question: why leave with success on the horizon?
VanVleet provided clarity on that situation when he claimed that Leonard already had his mind made up about his stint in Toronto the moment he arrived there.
VanVleet, now a Houston Rocket but currently recovering from a torn ACL, disclosed on the "Hello and Welcome" podcast that Leonard had already expressed in plain and clear terms that he was going the one-and-done route in Toronto. Regardless of what the result was that season, he was going somewhere else the following season.
"He said it from day one. 'I'm not staying here,'" Fred recalled . "So from day one… 'I don't know why they traded for me. I don't want to be here. I'm not staying here.'"
For all the criticism Kawhi receives for being enigmatic, this time he was direct. He didn't want to mislead anyone or waste time.
VanVleet, though, divulged that that proclamation did not stop the Raptors' management from trying their best to convince Leonard to stay with the franchise and build a dynasty in the Great White North.
"Toronto put their best bid in, man. The city bowed down like we've never seen before, man. You know what I'm saying? And so yes, as for us regular people, we can look at it and say, 'Man, how could you leave that?'" he added.
"But his mind was made up, man. Kawhi is Kawhi. I thank him eternally for helping us win the championship and carrying us to a moment to where I could be solidified and go on to make a ton of money. And we are forever indebted to him for that."
Asked if he thought the Raptors could have captured a few more championships had Leonard stayed, VanVleez responded that they could have won at least one more.
"You never know how things shake out, but like, we were in such a great position," he surmised. "This team is so good. We were so good without him, right? And so just having him was the ace card in the playoffs that we knew we needed. And that's all we really needed him for. And all he needed us for was to handle the regular season. So it was a perfect match. "
With Leonard moving back to his hometown of Los Angeles , VanVleet and Pascal Siakam tried to lead the Raptors' title defense the following season, but ultimately fell short, losing in seven games in their second-round clash against the Boston Celtics .
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
