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Kawhi Leonard shines in first game back with Raptors
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kawhi Leonard shines in first game back with Raptors as Toronto blows out Knicks backups

By Andrew Wright  |  Last updated Oct 13, 2026 9:39 PM ET
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For the first time since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Kawhi Leonard was back in a Toronto Raptors uniform.

In the offseason, the Raptors acquired Leonard via trade from the Los Angeles Clippers, the team he signed with in free agency after winning a championship with Toronto.

Leonard took the floor Tuesday in preseason action and looked like the same player he was seven years ago when Raptors fans last saw him.

Kawhi Leonard looked excellent in his preseason debut

Leonard logged 17 minutes Tuesday, and while he was playing against the New York Knicks backups, he still put together a solid night in the Raptors' 148-98 win. 

Leonard scored 21 points on 6-of-12 (4-of-8 3PT) shooting, along with collecting five rebounds and two steals. The eight three-point attempts were an interesting thing to see from Leonard, as he is not thought of as a high-volume shooter from distance. 

He attempted eight or more threes in just 18 of 65 (27.7%) games he played in last season, with most of those games coming in the early part of the season, per Statmuse.

Raptors defense will be suffocating this season

Not only will Leonard provide an outstanding level of offensive production, but he is also still considered an elite defender, something that Toronto prides itself on.

The duo of Leonard (two-time Defensive Player of the Year) and Scottie Barnes will be a matchup nightmare for most teams, as Barnes is also considered to be an elite defender who can guard any position at any point of the game.

Toronto will also have players like Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles who are also all considered to be above-average defenders.

What is the ceiling for Toronto in 2026?

Between offseason trades and free agency, there is a real argument to be made for at least half of the teams in the Eastern Conference to be considered championship contenders. 

Toronto is certainly one of the teams that should be included in those arguments about who has a chance to make a deep playoff run.

If Leonard is able to pour in 25 points per game and the Raptors play the suffocating defense that they are capable of, they could be right back where they were the last time Leonard was playing for the franchise.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan. 

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