Nets Player Makes Bold Statement About Kawhi Leonard

Does Kawhi Leonard deserve a statue in Toronto?

Very rarely does an NBA player receive a statue after playing only one season for a team. If there's one player who would receive it though, it would be Kawhi Leonard after what he did with the Toronto Raptors - Cam Johnson agrees.

In an interview on the Run Your Race podcast, Johnson was very candid about whether Leonard should receive a statue from the Toronto Raptors.

"I think this situation is a special situation," Johnson said. "There's not many situations where a player who played for one year deserves one, but I agree with you, and here's why. Because he really pulled up to Toronto, didn't speak, won a chip, and dipped... That's legendary. Legends get statues. Context is key here. How geeked was the city of Toronto? To bring a championship to that city in the manner he did against the powerhouse of the Warriors, injuries or not, it's the game."

Does Kawhi Leonard deserve a statue in Toronto? 🤔

“He really pulled up to Toronto. Didn’t speak, won a chip and dipped…That’s legendary. Legends get statues.”

- Cam Johnson

(Via: Run Your Race) pic.twitter.com/aJ5wXeZ6c4

— Tidal League (@TidalLeague) November 8, 2023

Kawhi Leonard had a historic championship run with the Toronto Raptors. He had the third most points in a single playoff series with 243 points, only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan. He also had the third most points scored in a single postseason, only behind Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Not only that, but he had the second most 30-point games on the road in a single postseason, only behind Kobe Bryant. Even if Kawhi Leonard faced an injured Warriors team, he still faced a very stacked Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks team to get there. All of these combined is reason alone for Leonard to have a statue.

"What more do you have to do," Johnson asked. "Context is key. That run was legendary, that Toronto championship is legendary in Toronto. It's all about how a city feels about you, that's what a statue is, and they love him."

Even if some don't want to claim Kawhi Leonard as the greatest Raptor ever because of how short his stay was, he's still undoubtedly the most accomplished Toronto Raptor ever - something that deserves a statue.