Kawhi Leonard took an important step in ramping up for his 15th NBA season on Monday when he participated fully in practice for the first time since the start of training camp.
TSN’s Josh Lewenberg reported the Raptors have been playing it safe with Leonard in preparation for the season due to his age, extensive injury history and complicated summer that saw a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Raptors sit in limbo for months.
Leonard was on court again Tuesday in Toronto and told reporters after the team’s session that he’s feeling good as he ramps up toward his pre-season debut.
“I feel good. Being smart, taking it slow. Just getting familiar with everybody. Getting the names right with each coach, player development, learning the plays. Learning everything that [head coach Darko Rajakovic] has been doing the past three or four years,” Leonard said.
Lewenberg reports Leonard is not expected to play in Toronto’s preseason contest against the Clippers this Saturday in Vancouver, but there is a chance he gets into game action the following week.
The Raps play a pair of exhibition games against the New York Knicks next Tuesday and Thursday and wrap up the preseason Friday, Oct. 16 against the Detroit Pistons. The regular season begins Oct. 21 against the Detroit Pistons.
Leonard said he’s been enjoying the experience of getting reacclimated to the organization after spending the last seven seasons in Los Angeles.
“It’s been fun. And everybody’s, like I’ve been saying, been coming in and making sure I understand everything. And, you know, they’re just welcoming. It’s been a great transition,” he said Tuesday.
The Raptors acquired Leonard from the Clippers in exchange for forwards Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, as well as two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round swap and two second-round picks. The deal was initially agreed to on June 30 but was not official until mid-September as the NBA investigated Leonard and the Clippers for salary cap circumvention.
Leonard addressed the league’s investigation and subsequent ruling – which saw the vast majority of the punishment go against the Clippers and not Leonard himself – at media day last week, but didn’t go into specifics, saying he preferred to keep the focus on rejoining the Raptors.
“I’m excited to be here. I know why some of you guys came. You want to hear about the investigation, but you know, talking with the NBA and the [NBPA], I think the best decision is to move forward and focus on my time being a Toronto Raptor,” he said on Sept. 28.
“I already was a distraction for the past 70 days and wasn’t able to meet with my teammates, do any of that minicamp stuff with them.”
