Toronto Raptors Make Major Kawhi Leonard Announcement

September 22, 2026
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Last week, it was finally confirmed that Kawhi Leonard had returned to the Toronto Raptors after the trade with the LA Clippers officially went through after a 2 1/2 month delay. 

On Tuesday, the Raptors announced that Leonard will be spending the next three seasons in Toronto, as the two sides have agreed on a two-year, $115 million extension. Kawhi will be playing the final year of his previous deal in 2026-27, at $50 million. 

The new extension includes a player option for the final year. 

And it appears that Kawhi even left a little money on the table, as it comes in at about $11M less than the maximum he was eligible for. He also waived the $7.45M trade kicker. 

Leonard, at 35, is coming off the highest-scoring campaign of his illustrious NBA career, at 27.9 points per game in 65 contests. He also made the All-NBA Second Team and finished seventh in MVP voting.

Kawhi is back in the city, and country, that fell in love with him during his one previous, glorious season with the Raptors, 2018-19, that led to the franchise's first NBA championship, and his second NBA Finals MVP award.

Leonard returns now in 2026 to a team that is on the rise in the East, led by the multi-talented two-time All-Star Scottie Barnes. But this year's squad doesn't have a single player left from that 2019 championship team. There's also a different coach, GM, and ownership. 

The one constant from back then remains one of the Raptors' most important employees, at least as far as keeping Leonard healthy back in 2019, and, they hope, going forward: Vice President, Player Health and Performance, Alex McKecknie.

Leonard "fully expects to retire and finish his career in Toronto," said insider Shams Charania.  



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