Kawhi Leonard is expected to play a major role in the Raptors’ ambitious vision for the 2026-27 season and beyond. Even though we can’t help but feel a sense of 2018-19 nostalgia, this isn’t the same Raptors team that the Klaw arrived to all those years ago. His former co-stars, Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam, are long gone.
It’s a different crew this time, more of a youth-driven movement rather than the dynamic squad that won the 2019 championship, but talent remains at its core. One of the biggest benefits of adding a seasoned veteran like Kawhi Leonard to this group, beyond his ability to elevate the ceiling and his proven scoring, is the wealth of wisdom and mentorship he brings. When Leonard came to Toronto in 2018-19, he was 27 going on 28. Now, he’s 35, preparing to close out his Hall of Fame career in Raptors colors — especially after securing that extension earlier this week.
Yesterday, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster addressed the media to discuss the upcoming season and other key storylines. He was asked a very thought-provoking question about the potential impact of players looking up to Kawhi Leonard’s example.
Kawhi Leonard serves an important purpose to this Raptors squad beyond his on-court efforts
Webster said (YouTube stream link here): “I think that when you think to Kawhi and what he provided for us before is what you continue to see and so he has a really, really high level of work ethic and excellence, right? And I think that you can see from afar, players can see that when he's working, players can see that pre-game, his diligence, people can see that postgame for his recovery. I think that's sort of what sticks with me about what was unique about him back then and I think you don't continue to play at the age of 35 if you're not doing that, and so those type of habits I think are probably what will rub off the most.”
You can’t really teach work ethic or devotion to the game, it’s something that either comes from the heart or maybe it slowly reveals itself as a player evolves over their career. And whatever you want to say about Kawhi’s off-court drama, his unwavering commitment to remain one of the league’s best deserves praise.
Sure, the question of how much we’ll actually see Kawhi on the floor each season will always be a major point of debate. But I would also argue that Leonard’s approach to maintaining his health over the years has allowed him to keep going into his mid-30s and beyond, like Webster alluded to.
In previous seasons, the Raptors had a vet like Garrett Temple around, serving essentially a player-coach role, and that definitely paid off as Temple moved on to join the Mavericks’ assistant coaching staff this summer. Or when Brandon Ingram was adjusting into his official Raptors arrival last year, there were budding relationships forming between him and youngsters like Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead. But with all due respect to the Notorious B.I.3., now the Raptors’ young guys have an all-time great coming in to soak up everything he’s got to offer.
Kawhi recently said in a notable Open Gym quote that he wants to “help the vision” and impact winning however he can. Whether that means embracing Scottie Barnes’ leadership or if the team needs to focus on Leonard, all eyes will still be on the Klaw. And in the process, he may just elevate those around him too.
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