Kawhi Leonard is staying in Toronto — and the Raptors are backing his return with a massive new contract.
According to The Athletic, Leonard has agreed to a projected two-year, $115 million extension with Toronto. The deal includes a player option for the 2028-29 season and is approximately $11 million below the maximum amount he could have received.
Leonard was previously in the final year of a three-year, $149.5 million contract he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in January 2024.
His return to Toronto came through a blockbuster trade that sent forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a pick swap and two second-round selections to the Clippers.
The new deal had reportedly been agreed to earlier in the summer but was temporarily put on hold while the NBA investigated reported salary-cap circumvention involving the Clippers.
The investigation ultimately resulted in significant sanctions against Los Angeles, along with a fine for Leonard, before the transaction was cleared.
For Toronto, the move brings back one of the most important players in franchise history.
Leonard spent just one season with the Raptors after arriving from the San Antonio Spurs in 2018, but he made it count. He led Toronto to its first NBA championship in 2019 and was named Finals MVP after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors.
Known around the league as “The Klaw,” Leonard has built his reputation on elite perimeter defense, a powerful midrange game and a reputation for delivering in high-pressure moments.
He is a two-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP, winning his first championship with San Antonio in 2014 before capturing another with Toronto in 2019.
Leonard also won consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2015 and 2016. His résumé includes seven All-Star selections, seven All-NBA selections and seven All-Defensive Team honors.
He was also named NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2020 and led the league in steals in 2015.
In 2021, Leonard’s standing among the game’s greatest players was further recognized when he was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Now, after a blockbuster trade that brought him back to the franchise where he delivered its defining championship, Leonard has a new long-term commitment from Toronto.
The Raptors aren’t simply welcoming The Klaw back. They’re building around him again.
