Kawhi Leonard speaks for first time since trade to Raptors

ajc.com

After several months of silence, Kawhi Leonard finally spoke in a letter released Thursday.

The long-time San Antonio Spur was traded to the Toronto Raptors on July 18 after months of reports that he wanted out of San Antonio.

Leonard never spoke publicly about the requested trade and hadn’t spoken about his move to Toronto until Thursday morning in a letter to the San Antonio Express-News in which he thanked his family, teammates, fans and coach Gregg Popovich.

“Though all the ups and downs— I’m glad there were many more ups,” Leonard said in part. “I’ll never forget what we have shared and accomplished together. While I am looking forward to the next chapter in my career, I’ll always remember the city and the people of San Antonio.”

Leonard’s full statement can be read below.

A copy of the letter from former San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard sent to the San Antonio Express-News Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. In the letter, Leonard addressed his trade to the Toronto Raptors and thanked San Antonio for the support over the past seven years of his career.

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Leonard was sent to Toronto in the July trade along with Spurs guard Danny Green in exchange for Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, center Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick.

Leonard spent seven seasons in San Antonio after being drafted with the 15th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. He averaged 16.3 points while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 38.6 percent beyond the arc with the Spurs.

The 2014 NBA Finals MVP was sidelined with a right quad injury last season, only playing in nine games with the Spurs.