Kawhi Leonard said he understands everyone has questions about the cap-circumvention scandal that delayed his trade back to the Toronto Raptors, but the two-time Finals MVP hopes he and his new team can move forward without further distractions.
"I know you want to hear about the investigation, but talking with the NBA and the (players' association), I think the best decision is to move forward and focus on my time being a Toronto Raptor," Leonard said Monday at Toronto's media day. "I was already a distraction for the past 70 days. I wasn't able to meet my teammates or do any mini-camp stuff with them, so moving forward, I just want to talk about the Toronto Raptors."
Monday marked Leonard's first time publicly addressing the scandal since he released a statement in early September saying he accepted responsibility for lapses in judgment by people in his inner circle.
For the L.A. Clippers' role in a scheme that helped Leonard earn off-court income from multiple companies, the NBA stripped the club of five future first-round draft picks and fined it $30 million, among other penalties. Leonard was fined $700,000. Additionally, Leonard's uncle and former business adviser, Dennis Robertson, was banned for five years from conducting NBA-related business or engaging with league teams. Federal prosecutors have reportedly opened a criminal investigation into the matter.
The Raptors and Clippers initially agreed to the framework of a Leonard trade in late June, but both teams waited out the NBA's investigation before proceeding with the transaction in September.
Despite the off-court scandal involving Leonard and the Clippers, the seven-time All-Star said he learned over the last year that he missed competing in a pressure-packed environment.
"We (the Clippers) weren't too competitive last year, but (what I learned) is I need pressure. I need a winning situation. I want to win," Leonard said. "That's what I learned from a basketball aspect. I like to be in a winning environment and I feel like (the Raptors) give me that."
The Clippers started last season with a 6-21 record before rebounding for a 42-win campaign, but L.A. was eliminated in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Meanwhile, the 46-win Raptors made the playoffs for the first time in four years before pushing the heavily favored Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in a first-round series loss.
Leonard also addressed looming questions about his health and availability, assuring reporters that he's "feeling healthy."
"I played 65 (games) last year, so hopefully this year I can play more and even build on that, adding games in the playoffs and making that a long run as well," Leonard said. "Currently, I'm feeling good, feeling healthy, and God willing, hopefully I can keep going that way."
Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game last season in 65 contests, earning his seventh All-NBA selection. He was also one of eight players to receive MVP votes. Leonard has averaged 55.5 games per season since returning from a knee injury that wiped out his 2021-22 campaign. The Raptors infamously used a load-management approach with Leonard in 2018-19, limiting him to 60 regular-season games before he appeared in all 24 postseason contests en route to a championship.
The Raptors signed Leonard to a two-year, $115-million extension that could allow the veteran forward to earn up to $165 million over the next three seasons.
Joseph Casciaro is theScore's lead NBA reporter.
