Can Kawhi Leonard lead Raptors to another NBA title?

TORONTO: Seven years can feel like a lifetime in the National Basketball Association.

Since Kawhi Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship in 2019, almost everything has changed. Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Danny Green and Fred VanVleet have all moved on, while Scottie Barnes has emerged as the face of a new generation and a two-time All-Star. The Eastern Conference has also reached a peak of competitiveness.

The Raptors, however, have quietly worked their way back into contention. Pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the opening round of this season’s playoffs convinced the front office it was closer to competing for a championship than beginning another rebuild.

And Leonard’s return after seven years with the Los Angeles Clippers is therefore about more than nostalgia.

Toronto reportedly paid a steep price to bring him back, sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and two second-round picks to Clippers. It is one of the franchise’s boldest moves since acquiring Leonard and reflects the front office’s belief that the championship window is open now.

The question is whether this team can follow the path of the 2019 champions.

The biggest difference between the two Raptors teams is age. Toronto’s 2019 championship roster was built around veterans entering or already in their prime. Lowry provided leadership, Gasol and Ibaka anchored the frontcourt, while Green and VanVleet added championship-caliber depth alongside Leonard and the emerging Siakam. It was a team assembled to win immediately, blending veterans, championship experience and players entering their prime.

The 2026 Raptors represent a different