Kawhi Leonard ☆ Follow

Starts 2 of 2 games · 5th on TOR in minutes · Core role

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• X Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) · Report · 6 h ago

  Kawhi Leonard was down, Scottie Barnes and the rest of the Raptors were out and the new-look Raptors looked very much like last year’s version — but not the good part — vs. Wolves:

  original post ↗

  also reported by Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA), Gil's Arena host

• Podcast Danny Cunningham (reported), via Locked On NBA · Relayed report · 12 h ago around the league

  Kawhi Leonard did not play in the Wolves-Raptors game. He was a late scratch because of swelling in his left knee.

  “GAME NIGHT: Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams Suffers GRUESOME Injury | Luka Doncic Goes OFF! | Concern For New Y” at 31:34 · listen ↗

  also reported by game broadcast (reported), via Locked On Raptors, @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social, Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050)

• Podcast Locked On Raptors · 3 points · 15 h ago
  • Reagan Subban (TSN) (reported): Reagan Subban (TSN) reported the Raptors will evaluate Leonard on Monday, hoping for an update as soon as Tuesday. at 2:28
  • The host said Leonard "hasn't even been at 100%" this season. at 6:37
  • The host hopes Leonard will be available going forward and expects an update in the coming days. at 26:07

  “RAPTORS POSTCAST: Raps and Scottie Barnes NO-SHOW vs. Timberwolves Without Kawhi Leonard” · listen ↗

• ESPN ESPN · Report · 19 h ago

  Out, left knee inflammation, return est. Oct 28

  source ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Report · Oct 24 around the league

  Kawhi Leonard has 58 straight 20-point games and now "probably" holds the record for most consecutive 20-point games.

  “Sixers Thrive + Jamal Murray down bad? | Slam N Jam” at 9:33 · listen ↗

• Podcast The Herd with Colin Cowherd host · Opinion · Oct 22 name not confirmed around the league

  Host is less high on Toronto than the media because of Kawhi Leonard's's health. He also said Embiid is probably only the Sixers' third or fourth most important player.

  “What's Wright - NBA Opening Night REACTION, Caleb Williams vs. Drake Maye, Chiefs-Seahawks MASSIVE game” at 25:11 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA host · Report · Oct 24 around the league

  Toronto beat Washington 112-102. Scottie Barnes had 28 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists, including 11 in the fourth. Kawhi had 16 points on 7-of-20. Trae Young had 22 points and 12 assists for Washington. Anthony Davis had 9 points and 9 rebounds, with zero in the fourth.

  “BEST NBA NIGHT EVER! YOU HAD TO BE THERE!” at 20:14 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Raptors · 5 points · Oct 23
  • Collin Murray-Boyles, Immanuel Quickley and Kawhi Leonard were all in foul trouble during the second-quarter slide. at 7:32
  • Guest lists the offensive actions he saw: isolating Kawhi Leonard or Scottie Barnes on mismatches, pinch-post play, a horns set with flare screens, and backdoor cuts off a Butler shuffle-cut action. at 8:32
  • Kawhi Leonard had 16 points on 7 of 19 shooting (2 of 8 from three), 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 turnovers, and was frustrated with some foul calls. at 24:06
  • Guest's opinion: Kawhi Leonard is not yet his usual self and is still getting his legs under him; he missed two or three fast-break layups in a row. No injury was mentioned. at 23:33
  • Guest is optimistic about the season's trajectory because Leonard has not hit his best form yet and the offense still clicks when needed. at 23:54

  “RAPTORS POSTCAST: Defense SHUTS DOWN Anthony Davis + RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes Carry The Offense” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Raptors · 3 points · Oct 23
  • The Raptors didn't really use Kawhi Leonard as a ball handler in the opener. Wolfond thinks it was about two pick-and-rolls, and Leonard's offense came mostly from transition and isolation. at 34:18
  • Sean Woodley: The hosts describe Kawhi Leonard as still rounding out his ramp-up and working his way into game shape. Woodley says he moved slowly, throttled down in a game the Raptors had no chance to lose. at 34:58
  • Sean Woodley: Woodley's one concern was how little lift Kawhi Leonard had, which he thought contributed to his missed layups and floaters. He wonders whether that is reconditioning or just Leonard at this stage of his career; he describes him as about 35 years old. at 36:05

  “Have the Raptors unlocked Immanuel Quickley? Breaking down his awesome opener w/ Joe Wolfond” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA · 2 points · Oct 22
  • The Clippers won without Kawhi, and the speaker says the win came against the Kings. No reason for his absence was stated. at 14:54
  • The moderator reads Lue's remark as possibly a quiet jab at Kawhi, and another host agrees. A third host disagrees: he thinks it was about keeping his job and the organization feeling the league is against it, not about Kawhi. at 14:52

  “Timberwolves SCARY Backcourt & Warriors Disastrous Start” · listen ↗

• Podcast Numbers on the Board host · Report · Oct 22 around the league

  Kawhi Leonard is a host's dark-horse MVP pick. The host says Kawhi wore a headband and tights in preseason and showed up to media day with an arm sleeve, and that he is 'moving different'.

  “LIVE From Chicago! | Numbers On The Board” at 30:42 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Raptors · 5 points · Oct 22
  • Kawhi Leonard shot 5-of-17. The host says he looked a bit slow and rusty but got to his spots easily. at 16:21
  • Kawhi Leonard (reported): Per the host's paraphrase of Leonard's postgame remarks, Leonard asked to return in the fourth quarter of a blowout to get more reps because he is still learning the plays. at 14:41
  • In context, the host says Leonard played 24 minutes and didn't look great. at 18:03
  • The host says Leonard played only two preseason games, one of them against the Knicks' backups, so he has had little runway to ramp up. at 17:20
  • The host isn't worried about Leonard. He expects a slow build and thinks the 5-of-17 will be an anomaly. Leonard took six threes, which the host found encouraging. at 17:55

  “Toronto Raptors defense looks absolutely monstrous; offense leaves meat on the bone in Bulls beatdown” · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 2 points · Oct 22
  • Kawhi Leonard returned with Toronto and scored 23, but made his first three and missed his next eight. A host calls him very rusty and says he didn't get much of training camp and is ramping up. at 16:13
  • Kawhi Leonard (quoted): After the game, Kawhi Leonard was asked about a target for getting back to full form and answered that he has no target: "You don't rush greatness." at 16:44

  “Wolves Make a Big Statement in Miami + Luka’s Showtime Era Begins” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA host · Report · Oct 22 around the league

  The Raptors beat the Bulls 135-92. Gavin (inferred) says Kawhi Leonard shot about 4-of-15 but had four steals, and that his lateral quickness 'might not be there in the same way'.

  “GAME NIGHT: Ant/LaMelo SHINE in Debut, Luka talks trash, Ty Jerome goes OFF” at 27:27 · listen ↗

• Bluesky Josh Lewenberg (@jlewenberg.bsky.social) · Report · Oct 22

  For this to work, the Raptors can’t simply rely on Kawhi Leonard to win them games, and they didn’t on opening night. Weighing in on Kawhi’s rusty re-debut with Jack:

  original post ↗

• Story CBS Sports · Article · Oct 22

  Familiar faces, new places: Grading debuts for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, other NBA stars

  source ↗

• Podcast Locked On Raptors · 7 points · Oct 22
  • Kawhi Leonard (reported): Per the host, Kawhi Leonard said his goal was to play 23 to 24 minutes, and he asked Darko to keep him in during the fourth quarter of the blowout so he could get his legs under him. at 7:58
  • The host said the drawn-out Clippers trade meant Kawhi Leonard did not get a proper offseason or training camp, so he is still ramping up. at 7:41
  • Kawhi Leonard had a big hand in the opening 7-0 run, which forced a Bulls timeout 79 seconds in. He assisted an RJ Barrett layup, hit a pull-up three on his first shot back, and stole the ball from Caleb Wilson. at 7:06
  • The host expects Kawhi Leonard's ramp-up to be slower and less seamless than during his last stint in Toronto, noting he is now 35. at 8:23
  • The hosts expect Kawhi Leonard to be load-managed this season ('we believe it's going to happen') and ask how the Raptors will look without him. at 11:53
  • Dwayne asked how Kawhi Leonard, no longer a young prime player, will recover and approach the next few games. at 25:39
  • Darko Rajakovic and Kawhi Leonard (reported): When the host asked Darko and Kawhi about Quickley, they said he did a good job of organizing and communicating. at 24:27

  “RAPTORS POSTCAST: Kawhi Leonard is BACK + a HISTORIC Beatdown of Bulls” · listen ↗

• Story ESPN · Article · Oct 21

  Kawhi Leonard scores 23 points in Toronto return as Raptors rout Bulls

  source ↗

  also reported by Josh Lewenberg (@jlewenberg.bsky.social), First Take, Darko Rajakovic (reported), via Locked On Raptors

• Bluesky @blakemurphy.bsky.social · Report · Oct 21

  Darko Rajakovic says Kawhi Leonard asked to come back into the game in the 4th to continue to get his legs/reps. Hence him returning while up 40+ Finished with 23 minutes.

  original post ↗

• Podcast Darian Vaziri, Locked On Clippers · Analysis · Oct 21 around the league

  The host says Kawhi Leonard is no longer with the team, which he calls a 'new era'.

  “Why Opening Night Is A MUST-WIN For The LA Clippers” at 7:19 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Raptors · 7 points · Oct 21
  • Host analysis: with Kawhi Leonard on the team, the transition attack will be devastating, with Scottie Barnes able to both orchestrate and finish in transition. at 5:08
  • Casciaro thinks the offense will be more 'big game proof' with Kawhi in place of Ingram, and that Toronto will be in the conversation for the league's best defense. at 6:31
  • Host thinks the offense will do fine in games Kawhi misses. at 7:24
  • Joseph Casciaro (reported): Per Cleaning the Glass, among 279 players with 1,000+ minutes last season, Kawhi's on-off differential ranked 4th and Ingram's ranked 271st. at 8:00
  • Host expects Kawhi to inevitably sit some games ('that's just what happens with kawaii leonard'), with Barnes posting big stat lines as the offense runs through him in those games. No specific reason or number of games was stated. at 11:57
  • Casciaro's bold prediction: Barnes and Kawhi both make one of the top two All-NBA teams. He notes both almost made All-NBA last year. at 13:15
  • Sean Woodley: Woodley says the coaching staff will probably have to deal with the ins and outs of Kawhi's health and manage the team in different contexts. at 20:02

  “Our most daring & audacious Toronto Raptors predictions ahead of the 2026-27 season w/ Joseph Casciaro” · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 2 points · Oct 21
  • Law Murray ranked the Raptors 4th, ahead of the Spurs and Celtics. Kawhi Leonard makes his Raptors debut Wednesday against the Bulls. at 46:29
  • Law's view on the Raptors: Kawhi is a high floor raiser who makes the team better even when he doesn't play. RJ Barrett is a big swing factor alongside Scottie Barnes, and the coach has improved the team year over year. at 48:26

  “What we learned from a chaotic NBA Opening Night” · listen ↗

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks · 3 points · Oct 21
  • A host assumes Toronto will close games with a frontcourt of Kawhi, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles, while noting it may not be the default. at 56:37
  • Toronto moves (Bobby Webster): the Kawhi trade, drafting Allen Graves, and a Jamal Shead extension of three years, $24M. at 1:15:54
  • Finals picks: one host picks a repeat Spurs vs Knicks Finals ('guaranteed to be wrong'). The other picks Thunder over Knicks and expects the Knicks to be worse through attrition. A host cannot bet on Kawhi staying healthy through the playoffs. at 1:18:58

  “2026-27 NBA Awards Predictions AND Wild Card Picks” · listen ↗

• Podcast Stephen A. Smith, First Take · Analysis · Oct 20 around the league

  Stephen A. says nobody knows how many games Kawhi Leonard will miss. He also says Leonard played 65 games last year and is good for 26-27 points a night when available.

  “Hour 1: Which team is the biggest threat to a Knicks Repeat?” at 46:43 · listen ↗

  also reported by Locked On Clippers host

• Podcast Locked On Clippers host · Analysis · Oct 20 around the league

  The host calls Brandon Ingram a rebounding downgrade from Kawhi Leonard, which implies Ingram now fills the small forward role Leonard held. No transaction details were given.

  “Biggest Takeaways From LA Clippers Preseason” at 5:47 · listen ↗

• Podcast Get Up host · Report · Oct 20 around the league

  Four Finals MVPs changed teams this offseason, all ending up in the East: LeBron and Kawhi (both from the West), Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown.

  “Hour 1: Commanders Confusion, Philly Fallout, Rams Reckoning” at 43:05 · listen ↗

• Podcast NBA GM survey (reported), via It Is What It Is · Relayed report · Oct 20 around the league

  NBA GM survey, small forward: Luka first, then Tatum and Kawhi.

  “NBA Is Officially BACK, GM Survey Is WILD Disrespectful & Are The Knicks Being Slept On?” at 29:15 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Raptors · 4 points · Oct 20
  • Kawhi Leonard is now on the Raptors. at 3:14
  • Sean Woodley: The net-rating prop is built on a five-man starting group of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Leonard, Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. The hosts call it 'the raptors starters'. at 30:27
  • Kawhi Leonard (reported): Sean says Leonard has talked a lot about fitting into the team and not taking too much away. Sean's own view is that the Raptors are better off if Leonard doesn't have to score 28–29 a game. at 6:18
  • Kawhi Leonard (reported): Vivek says Leonard has hinted he will walk away in four to five years. Vivek uses this to argue Leonard will want to make the most of his current level. at 7:17

  “The 10th Annual Toronto Raptors Over/Unders & Props Spectacular! | Predicting every angle of the season w/ Viv” · listen ↗

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