A new season has begun for the Toronto Raptors and, with Kawhi Leonard now back in the fold, there are new expectations that this iteration of the team has likely never faced before.
Before embarking on training camp in Quebec City starting Tuesday, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic and a group of players spoke to assembled media about what 2026-27 could have in store.
Here's a selection of the best quotes from Raptors Media Day.
Leonard wants to stay focused on basketball
"I know why some of you guys came," Leonard said. "You want to hear about the investigation, but, talking with the NBA and the (players' association), I think the best decision is to move forward and focus on my time being a Toronto Raptor. I already was a distraction for the past 70 days, and wasn't able to meet my teammates, do any of that mini camp stuff with them. So, moving forward, I just want to talk about the Toronto Raptors today. I did release a statement that you could go back to and look at. But, like I said, I just want to focus on basketball again, and being a Toronto Raptor."
Leonard on his return to Toronto and the team he's joining
"I'm excited to be back," Leonard said. "The team played amazing last year. Obviously, Scottie leading with Scottie, (Brandon Ingram) did a great job for the team as well. (Jamal) Shead, RJ (Barrett), (Immanuel Quickley), young fellow (Collin Murray-Boyles), some shooting from Ja'Kobe (Walter). They played great basketball. They made it to the playoffs, Game 7. Just a competitive, young group (that) defends first, runs out in transition. I think I could benefit from that. So, I'm excited to play with them.
"(I) decided to start training camp and learn from everybody, and just become better. I like the coaching staff. I like Darko a lot. So, we'll see what happens."
Leonard on building his legacy with the Raptors
"A big part of it was the fans' legacy," Leonard said. "Like you say, us doing something, doing the impossible here, and just the energy of the city. I really enjoyed it. The people walking around was nice, even before we won...
"The fans always gave me a liking coming back to play in the arena. The relationships that I have here, my son was born out here, so he always loves and like, 'Oh, when we coming back to Canada?' So now he's back home, so he even seems happier."
Leonard on his partnership on the floor with Barnes
"I think it's going to work great, just because we're coming in to play defence first," Leonard said. "I can play off anybody. I can catch and shoot. I've played with limited shots before, you know. So I think the offensive end is just going to take care of itself once we get out in transition and run. That's a lot of guys that's athletic that could get to the corner. Scottie's a great passer. He can dribble the ball up the court at his size. So I think it'll work out well."
Leonard on the return of the 'Kawine and Dine' promotion around Toronto
"That's great. You know, like I said, the city took a liking to me even before we won a championship. People were thanking me for just how great I was playing, and just leading the Raptors at the time to an historic playoff run," Leonard said. "But I want to know who told him I like to eat. And I'm older now, so I can't eat as much. So I've gotta stay locked in. But I appreciate appreciate it. It just just shows you their gratitude and how much they appreciate me being here and thank you guys. Thank you for the Kawine and Dine. People use it back home, so it's it's a funny thing, especially when my friends pay. I definitely tell them Kawine and Dine."
Rajakovic on the Raptors landing Leonard again
"For me, it was great news," the Raptors coach said. "I was really excited for him to come back home, to be back in Toronto, and to be able to join our team. I think a lot of intangibles that he brings, I think he's going to bring a lot of value to our team. I think he's going to complement our young team really well and at the same time, our young team, our youthfulness, our energy, our culture. I think it's going to fit him really well. I think he's going to really enjoy being here back in Toronto."
Rajakovic on the heightened expectations
"I think from from Day 1 we had clear objectives," he said. "We wanted to bring the Toronto Raptors to championship level and to be a contender. And everything that we do every single day is just building the team towards that. I think this is another step into the building of Toronto Raptors to be a contender, and we love this, I love this.
"For me, pressure is the is the privilege. You know, we really worked towards that, so we can feel that pressure. We're in a cutthroat business, and we're really looking forward. We believe in our team. We believe in our work. We believe in our fans. We believe in this city. I think it's going to be a great year for us."
Rajakovic on keeping Leonard healthy
"Having players in the league who are in their late 30s and in their 40s and playing and being super efficient, Kawhi is one of those guys," said Rajakovic. "He puts tremendous dedication to his body, and I think over the years that he learned his body quite a bit.
"(Also), we have an amazing medical staff with Alex McKechnie leading that staff that already had a chance to work with with Kawhi. So, I think that combination is going to really help his health, his availability, and I think it's really going to, at the end of the day, is going to help us in the run for the playoffs and in the playoffs."
Rajakovic on what's next for Collin Murray-Boyles
"All of us, we had a chance to see what kind of effect he had on our team in the playoffs," Rajakovic said. "You know, he was playing some Position 5 the majority of the time and, having in mind what type of team we have, the roster we had, we put a lot of time this off-season to see him play some Position 4 as well.
"Unfortunately, he was injured. He was not able to play in Summer League and to showcase all of that. So, we already have a plan for him that he's going to be offensively playing Position 4, Position 5. We need to use him in some lineups to get him and (Jakob Poeltl) on the court and he worked so hard this summer. He put in outstanding work ... and I think he's ready to make the next step in his career offensively and defensively."
Rajakovic on the team's conditioning
"I mean, when we talk about conditioning, it has to start with me, right? So, I did lose 10 pounds this this summer," Rajakovic joked. "So, we're in better shape to start with... Obviously, as a young team, we gotta see what's next for us. Some guys they needed to get stronger. Some guys in better condition. Some guys to add muscle.
"I'll give you an example of Ja'Kobe Walter who added some 10 pounds of muscle, who looks completely different. He skipped leg days, but he did not skip any arms days this summer.
"But it's going to be super important, you know? When you watch the NBA playoffs, when you watch the Finals, you see how the game is physical and how demanding it is to go deep in the playoffs. For me, it was super important that we get in the playoffs so we can understand what it takes to compete at that part of the year against that type of competition, night in and night out. And that was a big takeaway from all the guys. They understood (now) we gotta put even more work in in order to be ready for for what's next for us. So, I think at this point, I think all the guys are better conditioned compared to the last season this time."
Barnes expects to make the NBA All-Defensive First Team this season
"I know I'm one of the best defensive players in the world," Barnes said. "I do what I do, and I make an impact on that floor every single night. It's whatever. I don't want to say how I really feel, but it just felt kind of disrespectful that I didn't make (the first team this past season), and I know for sure I'll be on there this year. (I'll) make that statement."
Barnes on his potential defensive partnership with Leonard
"I think it's pretty exciting," Barnes said. "Of course, we're both two physical, strong defenders that really guard really well, but I think we both play the right way, so it's going to work on both ends. Defence gives us energy, and that's what's going to fuel us."
Barnes on the Raptors' defensive versatility overall
"Dangerous. We can be real dangerous on that end of the floor, just with our personnel," Barnes said. "We've got guys that move their feet really well, pick it up full court. It's starting from 94 feet throughout the whole game. We just got bodies and bodies. It's just gonna be able to work with our personnel. We're gonna be trying a lot of different things and seeing what works, but we're just gonna keep implementing them each and every single day. When we step on the floor, we're gonna get to know each other's tendencies, but I feel like we really know each other's tendencies a lot. I think it's gonna be real scary."
Barrett on not getting the contract extension heading into this season
"I think the playoffs is the biggest stage," Barrett said. "So, to be able to just show and prove who I already know that I am, that was pretty cool. And then terms of the extension and all that stuff, I don't control any of that stuff. I just control my effort and what I do and how I train. How I come in and try to help the team. I'm just going to continue to control the things I can control."
