'What we shared here, that's forever," Leonard says in the video.
Kawhi Leonard’s second tenure with the Toronto Raptors will officially kick off on Wednesday night as the franchise tips its 32nd NBA season.
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While the two-time champion, one of course won with the Raptors, has downplayed his expectations for the reaction from the home crowd, Leonard did release a short hype video on social media Tuesday.
In the video, Leonard rewinds to his magical year in Toronto and looks ahead to what’s next now that he’s signed for three more seasons after things went spectacularly off the rails with his former team the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Toronto, it’s been a minute since I left, and one thing I’ve learned about time: People move on, things change, and even the greatest moments become memories,” Leonard begins as scenes of the Raptors’ championship parade, the decisive win over the Golden State Warriors, raising the championship banner and shots of the city play.
“But some things, some things stay with you. What we shared here, that’s forever.”
Leonard thanks fans for letting him be himself and then looks ahead, noting “they say the second time around isn’t as good as the first, but we’ll see.”
Then Leonard seems to address naysayers of the title run by saying “One thing I know, it wasn’t luck the first time. (Some have said injuries to Warriors stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson swung the series, though we don’t subscribe to that theory).
“And I still know what it takes,” declares the two-time NBA Finals MVP who is coming off what might have been his best offensive regular season.
Leonard finishes by saying he’s not back in Toronto to live in the past and talks up his new teammates who are “hungry and ready.”
“And just like we had our moment. We trying to shock the world again.
“So, Toronto, let’s make this unforgettable. As I return. To you.”
As far as which Leonard the Raptors will be getting, only time will tell. His injury history has been well-documented, but Leonard is coming off 1.5 seasons where he’s performed at a Top 7 player in the entire league level. Throughout training camp he’s been ramping up and has said he’s feeling good.
“Just being smart, trusting that my 10,000 hours (of working on his game over the years) are going to work,” Leonard said earlier this week. “You can’t go as hard as you like to, you got to be more smart about everything and recovery. You aren’t 20 years old anymore, so recovery is big. Those are things you learn,” he said of preparation.
“It’s still a grind for everyone it’s only Game 1 you’re not in mid-season mode.”
And about that potential ovation from Raptors supporters eager to see Leonard and Scottie Barnes lead the team back to the top of the league, again, Leonard, true to form, seems unmoved by it all.
“Not really,” he said when asked if he’s been thinking about it.
“The fanbase is always great here. But this is going to be more than one game we’re going to have 41 games and more when the playoffs come,” Leonard said.
Perhaps his video was Leonard’s way of expressing his emotions more emphatically.
The Raptors and Chicago Bulls begin the season at 7:30 ET on Wednesday.
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