Kawhi Leonard has officially returned to the Toronto Raptors after his trade was held up most of the summer amid the NBA’s investigation into his former team.
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Clippers accepted their historic penalty, appointed an interim governor, and finalized a trade to send Leonard back to Toronto for two first-round picks. Leonard appeared at Monday’s media day for the first time since the trade, and attempted to put the story to bed.
The veteran forward, who delivered an NBA championship to Toronto in 2019, gave an opening statement suggesting he is coordinating with the league and players’ union to decline comment on the salary-cap-circumvention efforts Leonard’s reps and the Clippers engaged in.
“I’m excited to be here. I know why some of you guys came,” he told reporters.
“You want to hear about the investigation. But talking with the NBA and the (NB)PA, I think the best decision is to move forward and focus on my time being a Toronto Raptor. 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. So moving forward, I just want to talk about the Toronto Raptors today.”
Kawhi opening statement: pic.twitter.com/3j8kJ17QXt
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) September 28, 2026
Leonard referred to the statement he released in early September when the NBA announced the findings of its investigation into the Clippers.
In that statement, Leonard claimed “no knowledge” of his reps’ efforts to bring in money from team sponsors and said, “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.”
The NBA found that Leonard’s camp was connected to Clippers sponsors, which facilitated illicit payments to him. The NBA banned Leonard’s uncle and business manager, Dennis Robertson, from the league for five years. Leonard has also hired a new agent since the events in question. And as part of the NBA’s ruling, it struck an agreement with the NBPA that prevented the Clippers from appealing the punishment.
By accepting a $700,000 fine, Leonard now appears to be part of a unified front with the league and union.
Still, the report from the law firm that investigated the Clippers on behalf of the NBA leaves much unanswered, particularly on Leonard’s side. The report suggests Leonard’s reps and the Clippers worked out the side deals without his knowledge. Leonard also got off light with his meager fine — and no suspension — compared with the Clippers, who owe $30 million and won’t see most of their leadership team this season as they serve suspensions.
Media day is usually fairly positive and light. Leonard dodged further scrutiny of his role in the scandal that brought down this era of Clippers basketball on Monday, but it would be hard to think he could avoid addressing it forever.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is an Editorial Lead at Awful Announcing overseeing digital content and special projects. He lives in Phoenix and has covered sports media for Awful Announcing since 2023.