Twitter Reaction: Kawhi’s watch with Raptors has ended

Sportsnet's Paul Jones tells the Raptors faithful they shouldn't be surprised Kawhi Leonard left after one year.

Josh Weinstein July 6, 2019, 9:54 AM

Kawhi Leonard has departed the Toronto Raptors in free agency.

For many Raptors fans, the sentence above will sting for quite some time. The allure of defending an NBA championship in Toronto ultimately wasn’t enough to keep Leonard north of the border for more than one season, as the superstar forward elected to return home to Los Angeles and team up with Paul George on the Clippers.

Leonard’s signing, and the blockbuster George trade that followed, have added yet another ripple to what’s been an already-dramatic NBA off-season. One thing is certain in the wake of this dramatic news, though: Raptors fans are incredibly grateful for Kawhi’s lone season with the Raptors.

Here’s some of the best reaction following Leonard’s departure:

Recap of the Kawhi Leonard era in Toronto: pic.twitter.com/9CMgM6ixhB

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) July 6, 2019

Lakers fans 2 years ago
“We getting PG!!!!!”

Lakers fans 2 days ago
“We getting Leonard!!!!!”

Clippers: pic.twitter.com/c2NRogD6MB

— vinny

We'll always have this moment #ThankYouKawhi #RTZ #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/tXlbUK04Mn

—

The shot. The chip. The parade. #ThankYouKawhi pic.twitter.com/hl2Fc4gzh7

— Made In Canada (@MadelnCanada) July 6, 2019

The Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor era lasted 352 days

I wouldn't trade any of them for the world

— A:A (@Swarlayzers) July 6, 2019

Quickest departure for Finals MVP – NBA history (duration between winning award & departure):

Kawhi – 22 days
Dennis Johnson (1979) – 1y 0m
LeBron (2013)/KD (2018) – 1y 1m
Walton (1977) – 1y 11m
Shaq (2002)/LeBron (2016) – 2y 1m
Jo Jo White (1976) – 2y 7m
Moses (1983) – 3y 0m

— Todd Spehr (@toddspehr35) July 6, 2019

Kawhi Leonard is going to be some mythological figure in Toronto. Like in 15 years people will tell there kids about this guy who came here for 1 year, helped this city win the championship with a bunch of meme-worthy memories along the way, then bounced.

Won and done.

— Faizal Khamisa (@FaizalKhamisa) July 6, 2019

Our #KawhiWatch has ended. #ThankYouKawhi for the NBA championship that you helped to bring to Toronto with your @Raptors teammates. #ThanksKawhi #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/04fVCECnIw

— John Tory (@JohnTory) July 6, 2019

It was still all worth it for Masai Ujiri & the Toronto Raptors.

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) July 6, 2019

https://twitter.com/Ieafsdiehard/status/1147463722392309765

Kawhi Leonard picked the Clippers because Steve Ballmer helped develop his favorite video game, Microsoft Office XP

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) July 6, 2019

NBA Twitter now that Kawhi Leonard has joined the Clippers and restored parity to the NBA world.

https://t.co/uo6smKpuvn

— Hilton Caleb Braithwaite IV (@HiltonTheFourth) July 6, 2019