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How the Raptors’ love for Kawhi Leonard reflects Clipper Nation

By Joey Linn

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors speaks with the media following his teams victory over the Golden State Warriors to winGame Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors speaks with the media following his teams victory over the Golden State Warriors to winGame Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) – Kawhi Leonard /

Kawhi Leonard’s Hero Status

The gamble paid off.

All of the questions surrounding the trade for Kawhi Leonard were answered at this very moment. The city of Toronto, and the entire country of Canada, rejoiced in their liberation from the pain of the past. The Toronto Raptors were NBA Champions.

In a sense, this is where the story of Kawhi returning to Toronto on Wednesday night begins. He got a reception fit for a king, and ask anyone in Toronto about him and they’ll tell you that’s exactly who he is: The King of the North.

It was previously mentioned that the only way a newly acquired superstar can depart after one season and still be revered as a legend in the city, would be through a perfect storm. The situation in Canada could not have been a more perfect storm for such a pairing.

Coming into the 2018-19 season, the Raptors were one of just 12 NBA franchises to never win an NBA title. Any fan of such a team will openly admit that just one championship will mend even the deepest of emotional scars.

This is what Kawhi did for the city of Toronto. This was a city desperate to become a city of champions. In fact, this was a city that had never even seen its NBA team in the Finals. The city of Toronto was ready for Kawhi.

What made it even more special, was that the Raptors trailed in every series leading up to the Finals. They weren’t supposed to be where they were. For the Toronto fans who had supported this team for years, they definitely knew this wasn’t where they were supposed to be.

All these fans had known was disappointment and heartbreak. Kawhi brought liberation from all of it, and a level of peace fell over the entire country.

The only question that still remained, was whether or not Kawhi would stay. After such a historic run, there were definitely were motives to stay; however, the appeal of coming home to SoCal hadn’t lessened.

Toronto fans knew this, and although they would love nothing more than five more years of Kawhi, there was a level of understanding that his goal in Toronto was fulfilled and it was time to go home.

That is exactly what happened. The Toronto Raptors took a chance on Kawhi Leonard, knowing it may just be one year with him. It was, but that one year changed the entire country forever. That is why such a hero’s welcome was possible when Kawhi entered Scotiabank Arena as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.

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