You can learn a lot about people through art. Watchmen (1986-87), a graphic novel about super heroes who are far from super, qualifies. People aren’t always what they seem, and they certainly always what they pretend to be.
Kawhi Leonard, Toronto’s super hero, returned to Toronto last night. Despite rumours about Leonard being in Toronto before his free agency decision, his return to the city was his first since the playoffs. And during his return to Toronto, he did exactly what you would expect of his a player who loved his time on the team. He arrived, received his ring, played basketball, and even had dinner with Kyle Lowry and his wife afterwards. All the time, and in his own quiet way, he sang the praises of the team who traded for him.
He said he cherished the memories in Toronto, remembered his teammates with love and well wishes, and will always have a connection to the city and fans. He said all the right things. He even said he almost re-signed in Toronto.
“I gave it a big consideration,” Leonard admitted. “I took my time, I didn’t hurry up and make a quick decision. I talked to the front office in deep detail. It was a hard choice to make.”
Toronto was always afraid that Leonard never reciprocated the love the city showed him. Because Leonard is so understated in his speech and mannerism, he often seemed less than exuberant in his praise. It didn’t help that some American media members constantly claimed dissatisfaction in Leonard, one infamously even going so far as to report that Leonard would refuse to play for the Raptors. Leonard leaving Toronto could have closed the case that he never loved it here. But he did.
Toronto showed a tribute video to Leonard’s time in Toronto, even turning the screen black and recreating Leonard’s shot against Philadelphia, tracing his footsteps in light. Afterwards, the entire team stood at mid-court, and Leonard shook hands with each one. As Leonard received his ring, he received a booming MVP chant from the crowd. Leonard received multiple standing ovations on the night, and to my ears, there wasn’t a single boo. Leonard at one point acknowledged the crowd with a small wave, and it caused paroxysms of joy to sweep the stadium. He never took the mic and spoke to the arena, but that is now how Leonard rolls. He is always as quiet as possible. But he enjoyed himself.
“It was great,” said Leonard of the presentation. “It was a great moment. They did a great job putting that together, having all the players out there and everyone waiting, standing there and presenting my ring. It was great.”
At the end of the line of Raptors waited Lowry, who gave Leonard his ring. Leonard pretended to wipe something from his eyes before the embrace, and both men laughed.
Leonard said afterwards that he was joking, and Lowry joked that Leonard actually had something in his eye. Either way, the embrace between Leonard and Lowry was a rare peak at a genuine moment of friendship between the two former teammates. Leonard may not have cried, but he faked it for a laugh.
There was a moment in Watchmen when Lori Blake, herself a superhero, was concerned that her deity boyfriend no longer cared about her or humanity. He seemed uninterested in her, only pretended to care about her well-being. When told of the problem, Daniel Dreiberg astutely replied that if he’s pretending to care, that means he cares.
Kawhi Leonard has always cared about the Raptors. He’s said as much whenever he’s been asked, and at a certain point, we have to take his word for it. He may not care enough to weep in front of a stadium full of adoring fans, but at least he cared enough to fake it. For one last night, Toronto and Leonard were reunited. It didn’t last forever, but it was enough,
