“Pulled up, didn’t speak, and won a chip” Brooklyn Nets player makes case for Kawhi Leonard statue in Toronto despite only one season for Raptors

Kawhi Leonard was in the crosshairs of a debate about whether the Raptors should give a statue to him, given that he was only there one year.

“Pulled up, didn’t speak, and won a chip” Brooklyn Nets player makes case for Kawhi Leonard statue in Toronto despite only one season for Raptors

Kawhi Leonard during Raptors days (via IMAGO)

In light of recent events, it is to be said that LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard who won an NBA champion for his tenure with the Toronto Raptors was in the crosshairs of a debate about whether the Raptors should give a statue to the Leonard, given the fact that he played for one year with the team and was on an expiring contract.

Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors from the San Antonio Spurs in a high-profile trade that was done in exchange for DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl in the year 2018. During Kawhi’s short tenure in Toronto, he led the team to its first NBA title in the year 2019 with an exceptional and infamous buzzer-beater shot which led the franchise to the 2019 NBA championship. Leonard was also awarded the finals MVP for the 2019 NBA season before he was traded to his current team the LA Clippers in free agency.

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During a podcast called Run Your Race podcast on the Tidal League network, guests, former NBA star Theo Pinson along with the Brooklyn Nets current forward Cam Johnson shared their views on the 2019 finals MVP winner earning a statue outside the Scotiabank Arena. Johnson said:

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He really pulled up to Toronto. Didn’t speak, won a chip, and dipped. He was like, ‘I appreciate y’all. It’s nice doing business. I’m going to go about my business.’… That’s legendary. Legends get statues.

He added: 

Context is key here. How geeked was the City of Toronto? To bring a championship to that city in the manner that he did, against the powerhouse of the Warriors… that Toronto championship is legendary. It’s all how a city feels about you.

Pinson then added:

I think he does, no doubt about it. He came in, got you a dub, got you a championship, and dominated. Listen. What more does the man have to do?

Kawhi Leonard comments on James Harden’s debut against the New York Knicks

The LA Clippers recently in a blockbuster trade got James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers with the team sending Harden, PJ Tucker, and Filip Petrusev in exchange for Nic Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, and multiple draft picks. The LA Clippers recently went up against the New York Knicks where Harden made his debut with his new team. The Clippers star Kawhi Leonard reacts to his new teammate’s performance upon being asked by reporters.

James Harden
James Harden (via Shams on X)

Leonard in the media interaction stated his views and said:

[Harden] did a good job his first game in a while. And it takes time to get his legs under him as far as conditioning, but he did a great job to me. Got everybody involved, running pick-and-roll very well.

Leonard was asked if he was lost with the newness of Harden’s arrival to the Clippers to which he replied saying:

No. It’s gonna be like that. We have guys that can score the ball. Won’t be the only one. I just gotta be ready when my opportunity comes.

James Harden dropped 22 points including three rebounds and eight assists in his debut night with the LA Clippers. The Clippers now have a start-studded roster including Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden making them one of the strong teams to be in the league with a strong offensive front. This also makes them one of the tough contenders for the NBA championship this season.

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