Kawhi Leonard scores 23 in Raptors return, says he needs game reps

Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points in 24 minutes in his first game back with the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, October 21, as they beat the Chicago Bulls 135-92 at home in their season opener. Afterward, he said he had wanted playing time even as Toronto pulled away because he needed game repetitions with the team.

The game marked Leonard’s return to Toronto after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. He previously spent the 2018-19 season with the Raptors and helped them win their first NBA championship. The opener gave Toronto its first regular-season look at him back in a Raptors uniform, with the wide margin allowing him to work through plays in game conditions.

Leonard’s numbers against Chicago

Leonard kept his assessment brief after the win. ‘I’m not really assessing it right now. I never really do,’ he said in remarks reported by Heavy and carried by Yahoo Sports. ‘We won the game. Just trying to do what it takes. It’s one game. We’re going to get better. That’s it.’ His focus, he said, was on the work still needed with his teammates, rather than a judgment on one performance.

Why Leonard wanted more minutes

Leonard said he had not played much during training camp and wanted any minutes he could get. Even with the Bulls trailing heavily, the aim was for him to play about 23 or 24 minutes. ‘I need more reps to learn plays,’ he said, according to Heavy. That helps explain why he returned to the floor during a game in which the result was already taking shape.

He said practice shooting could not replace the decisions made during a game. The repetitions mattered on defense too, he explained, because he needed to make calls instinctively as plays unfolded. His comments put the emphasis on getting accustomed to Toronto’s on-court work, rather than on adding to his point total against Chicago.

Before the opener, Steve Nash had discussed Toronto’s potential with Leonard and the conditions for success. Wednesday’s result was the next development: Leonard played in the season opener and described the specific work he wanted from those minutes.