Kawhi Leonard's lone season with the Toronto Raptors couldn't have gone better on the court, and it also seems to have been a slam dunk away from the hardwood.
"The guys, the journey, you know what I mean?" Leonard told reporters of his memories north of the border, including Sportsnet's Michael Grange. "Also, the country, the city, it was amazing. Just so much, you can keep going on and on."
Shortly before the team acquired him from the San Antonio Spurs, it was reported Leonard had "no desire" to play for the Raptors.
However, the Los Angeles Clippers superstar denied holding any animosity toward the Raptors immediately after the deal.
"I never went in with a negative mindset," Leonard said. "Playing with Cory Joseph in San Antonio, him being from that area in Toronto, I knew what the city brought, just going out there, playing games, hanging out with him and his friends, him taking me around, showing me the city.
"I always felt positive with the trade and the front office. I knew it was great already with (Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri) being in there so it was never a negative thing, I was always open-minded about it."
Leonard re-established himself as the league's top two-way player during the 2018-19 campaign. The three-time All-Star set career highs in points (26.6 per game) and boards (7.3) while also earning Finals MVP honors after leading the Raptors to their first NBA championship.
Leonard joined the Clippers this past summer on a three-year, $103-million max deal. L.A. and Toronto will meet on Monday at the Staples Center for the first time since the California native departed in free agency.
