By Canadian Press

Basketball fans welcome former Raptor Kawhi Leonard back to Vancouver

Oct 17, 2019 | 10:39 PM

VANCOUVER — Basketball fans enthusiastically welcomed former Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard back to Canada on Thursday night.

Cheers echoed from the crowd at Rogers Arena in Vancouver as Leonard led his new team, the L.A. Clippers, on to the court for warm ups before an NBA pre-season game with the Dallas Mavericks.

Fans got loud once again as the 28-year-old’s name was announced in the starting lineup.

Leonard led the Raptors to their first NBA championship last season, averaging 30.5 points per game in a playoff run which generated huge television ratings across Canada.

He then opted to join his hometown Clippers in free agency, reportedly agreeing to a three-year, US$103-million contract.

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The negotiation period attracted plenty of attention. One television network even used a helicopter to film a vehicle that reportedly had Leonard inside after he flew to Toronto to meet with the Raptors.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers knew Canadian fans were looking forward to seeing Leonard live on Thursday.

“They should be excited,” the coach said. “He did something very special for this country. So that’ll be a lot of fun for him, for sure.”

Leonard is returning to the city where he took part in his first and only training camp with the Raptors last year.

This report by The Canadian press was first published Oct. 17, 2019.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press