It’s been two months since the Toronto Raptors traded their star player, DeMar DeRozan, to San Antonio Spurs for the quiet and mysterious Kawhi Leonard and the less-so Danny Green.
The Raptors only decided to introduce the two players at a press conference on Sept. 24. It was Toronto’s first look at Leonard, who’s two or so months in Toronto have been locked down that some probably started to believe the small forward never left Texas or sneaked off to his hometown in California.
Leonard is such a mystery that most of the reporters at the conference basically asked him more about what kind of person he is, rather than his basketball career. Only answering with a rather dreary “I’m a fun guy,” reporters started asking Green how he would describe his teammate.
Nobody asked anyone what kind of person Green was. At one point, Green even joked about being included.
Yet Green looked to be excited at the prospect of playing in Toronto, while Leonard looked like he’d rather nap for the season.
In all fairness, Leonard did answer all the questions the right way. Yes, I want to play here; I hear Toronto is a great city, etc.
But the biggest take away from the introductory press conference was a show of genuine emotion from the 27-year-old Los Angeles native. It was still awkward though.
Kawhi Leonard laughing might be the funniest thing I’ve heard in awhile 😂
— Lucais (@kaelynboiii) September 25, 2018
Kawhi laughs like his software needs to be updated https://t.co/MLAcK9RGWt
— Zito (@_Zeets) September 24, 2018
After being asked to describe himself, Leonard verbally wonders where the reporter is and laughs, stops and looks like he just dropped an ice cream cone.
Yes, it was awkward but the internet response to the laugh has become a sensation. So even if Leonard decides he’s not going to stick around for more than his contracted year (he said he’s going to take it day by day), at least the Raptors and their fans will have that laugh.
You know you really made it to the big leagues when you have your own meme.
However, he did leave a clue in one answer that it’s unlikely that he will stay in Canada after he answered a reporter’s question about his goals for his career.
“Just being healthy, that’s my number one goal. Have a long-term career, to be able to be dominant wherever I land, and that’s about it,” he said.
Wherever I land.
Uh-oh.
Hopefully, this trade doesn’t turn out as a blunder. Leonard is a superstar, but superstars don’t always live up to their hype. Just ask Vancouver Canucks fans about Mark Messier.
Leonard did say he will give it his all on the court as long as he is in Toronto’s books and he does have the talent to do great things with the franchise, but it could cause an implosion.
Kyle Lowry, DeRozan’s best friend and fan favourite, was cagey in his conference and revealed that he hasn’t talked to either Leonard or the new coach, Nick Nurse. He only referred to the latter by his surname.
He also just said he’s only here to play ball and refused to give a real answer to if he would be committed to the Raptors.
It will be an interesting season, that is for sure.