Toronto goes for first title with a former Warrior on board, while Golden State brings former Raptor
By Ed Klajman
Special to S. F. Examiner
TORONTO – Masai Uijri accpeted the Eastern Conference trophy on behalf of the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night, but the team president didn’t just grin and shake hands.
After Toronto beat the Milwaukee Bucks 100-94 to clinch the Eastern Conference Finals, Uijri sent a message to the Golden State Warriors: He proclaimed that the reason Toronto is poised to win the NBA title – and dethrone the two-time defending champions – is because Toronto has the league’s best player: Not Kevin Durant, not Stephen Curry, but Kawhi Leonard.
Uijri told Leonard as much when he traded for him last summer.
“I don’t want to be the best player,” Leonard said. “I just want to be on the best team. [The trade] turned out well. But we’re not done yet.”
In Game 6 against the Bucks, Leonard poured in 27 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and added seven assists in leading the Raptors to their first NBA Finals appearance since joining the league a quarter century ago. That’s just one of several storylines headed into Thursday’s Game 1, when the Warriors will head up to Toronto.
After a tumultuous final year with the San Antonio Spurs, missing almost an entire season due to injury and finally winding up with the Raptors, Leonard has made Toronto a deep and true threat to Golden State’s dynasty.
“I’ve just known myself what’s right for me,” Leonard said. “I ended up coming here with a great group of guys, a lot of talent. I’ve bought into their system. All that hard work we put together and now we’re here. It’s exciting.”
Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, who had 17 points and eight assists for Toronto in Game 6 – while also taking a couple of key charges and scrambling for key loose balls as he has done all playoffs long – said there’s one trait that sets Leonard apart.
