Kawhi Leonard was recently traded from San Antonio Spurs to Toronto Raptors and if there's one thing hard for this scenario - it's how to say goodbye.
It has been three weeks since the trading happened and Leonard finally broke his silence. According to Bleacher Report, the 27-year-old basketball player expressed his gratitude towards the fans, his teammates, and Spurs' Head Coach Gregg Popovich through a short but heartwarming letter. Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania officially posted it on Twitter.
In the message, Leonard admitted that he has been thinking about what to say for weeks and it all came down to two words: "Thank you." He emphasized how he is not the only person thankful for the experience, but also his family. Leonard has been with the Spurs for seven years and had nothing but praises for teammates and the coach Popovich.
While he'll be facing the new chapter of his life, Leonard promised that he will always remember his former team, especially Popovich's contribution to his growth. Leonard was traded to Toronto alongside shooting guard Danny Green, young center Jakob Poeltl and a "protected" 2019 first round pick.
Why Kawhi Leonard Left San Antonio Spurs
It has been previously revealed that Leonard was initially unenthusiastic about the trade. He reportedly preferred to be on Lakers, since it is his hometown. In the end, his desire to be traded is obvious after appearing on nine games during the 2017-2018 season. Leonard's frequent bench scenario was due to his quad injury.
There are several questions as to why he left but some say he could have come back. After all, his former team never said he would be shut down despite his injury. Unfortunately, it is safe to say that how the San Antonio Spurs handled the issue played a part in his decision to leave.
Leonard, meanwhile, is a one-time finals' MVP and has been an All-Star player twice. He finished third at the 2016-2017 regular season MVP voting as well, with an average of 25.2 points, 3.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. There is no doubt that he is a game changer during his healthy days and is definitely one of NBA's best players.
Toronto Raptors can't be undervalued also after finishing first in the Eastern Conference with 59 wins. They were ousted by Cleveland Cavaliers as there's Lebron James. But with Kawhi Leonard around, winning might not be that elusive for Raptors anymore.
