Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were introduced for the first time as members of the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday and with the introduction came a final end to Leonard's chapter as a Toronto Raptor.
George thanked the Oklahoma City Thunder organization for two great years that he spent with the team and Leonard followed suit by thanking the Raptors in the most Kawhi Leonard way possible.
Kawhi Leonard opens up his introductory press conference with the Clippers by thanking the Raptors, the city of Toronto, and Canada. pic.twitter.com/ffMS2RxkSE
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 24, 2019
"You know I want to thank the Raptor fans, you know I don't have social media so I'm not able to put out a paragraph or whatever," Leonard joked as the onlooking crowd laughed.
"Thank all of Toronto, the city, the country. You know it was a great amazing season — best parade ever. Thanks to the doctors for delivering my baby — my baby boy. He's three months now, still healthy.
"I also just want to thank the city as far as the restaurants, you know giving up that 'Kawhi and Dine' throughout the playoffs — I took advantage of that.
"The players they already know what's up — text, FaceTime me we'll talk. Coaching staff as well and the whole organization really and just thanks to the whole city."
Leonard signed a three year $103 million contract with the Clippers, with a player option for the third year. He'll be able to opt-out of his deal in the summer of 2021, which is the same year George can become a free agent as well.
With both George and Leonard now in the fold the Clippers are the Vegas favourites to win the NBA title in 2020. According to BetOnline, the Clippers have +350 odds to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy next June. Their cross-town rivals the Los Angeles Lakers aren't far behind with +500 odds to win it all.
Leonard led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA championship in 2019 averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals earning Finals MVP.
