TORONTO, ONTARIO - MAY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reacts against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter during Game One of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on May 30, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Kawhi Leonard is a man of few words. The star’s reluctance to provide in-depth answers to media or show emotion in general has become a calling card like his stingy defense and potent mid-range game.
Even though Leonard prefers to let his play do the talking, he clearly is okay with opening his mouth when he has to. In the locker room after a Game 2 loss to Golden State was one of those times.
Before tonight’s Game 5, a potential clincher for the Raptors, Toronto head coach Nick Nurse relayed a story about Leonard’s message to teammates following Game 2. It was short, sweet and effective.
Responding to Nurse’s decree that they had to win one of the next two games on the road, Leonard pounced.
Nick Nurse said in the locker room after Game 2, he told the team they just had to get one of the two games in Oakland. Nurse said Kawhi Leonard responded, “(expletive) that. Let’s get them both.”
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 10, 2019
Leonard proceeded to go out and average 33.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in Games 3 and 4, both Toronto wins. The victories left the Raptors on the precipice of a title heading into tonight.
Even if they don’t win it all, the Raptors’ trade for Leonard has proven to be one of the best offseason trades in recent league history. It was a stroke of pure genius by Masai Ujiri.
One more win and an NBA championship would be icing on the cake.
