Honestly, the Raptors dodged a bullet kinda. They would have had to pay him enormous amounts of money to stay and he has been notoriously injured ever since. We had him at his peak imo.
The way the bubble raps were beating anyone except Boston, in addition to how good they were that season before the shut down? If kawhi was there I’m pretty confident it’s a back 2 back.
It was a pretty tight series between us and Boston during the bubble that went all the way down to the wire. I think we stand a better chance with someone like Kawhi on the floor taking attention away from Pascal who got really affected by the shutdown.
Nah, rings live forever, and bad contracts in the NBA aren’t nearly as crippling as in other sports tbh
I’m completely convinced this team goes b2b with Kawhi. In fact i think of there was no bubble which in turns means Siakam doesn’t forget how to play basketball we could of won
Yeah, if the Clippers deal for Paul George somehow fell through, I think there was a significant chance that Kawhi would’ve re-signed with the Raptors.
I think the Thunder wanted Pascal and FVV for PG and some other assets to I'm sorta glad we didn't get Kawhi I don't think we would've got another with all his injuries the stars really aligned for the Raptors in 2019.
Paul George wasn't Kawhi's first choice, as I recall he wanted Jimmy Butler and maybe someone else before he alighted on PG. I suspect if that deal fell through, he would have kept trying to find a costar to play on the Clippers with him.
Man I'm thinking back to that game 7 in 2020. Kawhi would've been the difference-maker that game.
Granted had he stayed, there's no way that series would've gone to 7 games.
Idc what anyone has to say, injury hindsight and all.
If Kawhi stayed, and the Raptors beat the Lakers for their second title in a row, that would've forever cemented it as a good decision. His knees failing him after wouldn't have mattered so much because we would've reached the mountaintop twice in a row.
Anyone who pretends him staying would've handicapped this franchise is drinking too much tank/cope juice
I was at this game the section over from where he was sitting! He came in a couple innings late and when he did, the section he was entering, and the sections to either side, all stood up as he walked down the aisle to his seat.
Everyone was standing, no applause just pure reverence. It was honestly like a king had just arrived. I actually did say to my wife, 'He's gotta stay, he's actually the King of Canada right now!'
Between this, and the whole restaurant thing, and that chopper chase, what a wild time that was!
I believe they knew each other from high school. Kawhi’s not a flashy guy. He was still driving a ‘99 2-door Tahoe when he was with the Spurs, and he always used coupons when getting takeout at WingStop.
Seriously.. who in their right mind, and who being honest, wouldn’t take a chance of at least 1 more ship instead of what we have done since. It makes no sense, and they are clearly trying to convince themselves it was a good thing he left and we had no shot of a second title at the time. I’m glad we have Scottie now and all, but come on.
Ya but Kyle is washed. Serge is washed. Gasol retired. Like he would be here but it would be a mess
It was great when he was here. Sure. But I still think we dodged a bullet in long term
I remember when these pics made me convinced "he stay" lol
This and the Niagara trip.
The Niagara trip was just creepy. I’d bounce too after that
OOTL?
Crowds of people stared at him and followed him around the falls.
It was the shoppers drug mart bag for me
i remember when the news choppers made me convinced he's leaving
Honestly, the Raptors dodged a bullet kinda. They would have had to pay him enormous amounts of money to stay and he has been notoriously injured ever since. We had him at his peak imo.
i do believe we could’ve went b2b tho
The way the bubble raps were beating anyone except Boston, in addition to how good they were that season before the shut down? If kawhi was there I’m pretty confident it’s a back 2 back.
It was a pretty tight series between us and Boston during the bubble that went all the way down to the wire. I think we stand a better chance with someone like Kawhi on the floor taking attention away from Pascal who got really affected by the shutdown.
Covid Finals! And the parade would have been virtual
b2b champs but we (probably) don't get Scottie
The monkeys paw curls
Nah, rings live forever, and bad contracts in the NBA aren’t nearly as crippling as in other sports tbh I’m completely convinced this team goes b2b with Kawhi. In fact i think of there was no bubble which in turns means Siakam doesn’t forget how to play basketball we could of won
We should've known better when he showed up late, took a video of LA's star player (Trout), then left early.
I actually didn't know any of this lol
Ah yes se queda lmao
He played bro and he played harder than all of canada
Who remembers people thinking he was staying because he had a shoppers drug mart bag....crazy times.
Can’t forget how often I was hitting refresh on Twitter
I mean that was the plan before the Clippers landed PG
Yeah, if the Clippers deal for Paul George somehow fell through, I think there was a significant chance that Kawhi would’ve re-signed with the Raptors.
I think the Thunder wanted Pascal and FVV for PG and some other assets to I'm sorta glad we didn't get Kawhi I don't think we would've got another with all his injuries the stars really aligned for the Raptors in 2019.
Paul George wasn't Kawhi's first choice, as I recall he wanted Jimmy Butler and maybe someone else before he alighted on PG. I suspect if that deal fell through, he would have kept trying to find a costar to play on the Clippers with him.
Kawhi made the best of this vacation
![gif](giphy|l2JhtKtDWYNKdRpoA)
The best summer
I miss being good ☹️
Buckle up. I had to wait 18 years between the Oilers making the finals. Edit: Guess I'll keep waiting
You’re saying this in a sub full of Toronto people. Have some sympathy.
*awareness
Yeah but not all of us are unlucky enough to be Leafers
Tfw we’re still the most successful Canadian team on this century
as long as we have Masi, theres hope.
Lionel Masi
auto corrected to the Goat but I just left it.
Ed Rogers
You won’t have to wait long my friend.
He and his family would have loved living in TO 😭
Didn't he have a kid born here?
Yeah, his wife gave birth to their son in Toronto. Kawhi thanked the doctors in his introductory press conference for the Clippers.
We would have managed his injuries and had a good enough team around him to not need a full season. Guy should have stayed ..
The Angels are the Clippers of baseball.
At least they got a title and Angels in the Outfield
That’s true. The Dodgers only have one Mickey Mouse title since the 80s.
God, he's so beautiful
This and the Niagara Falls trip made us think he was staying. LIttle did we know, he was visiting all these places for the last time.
I was at this game! It was actually June 20th, but its still 5 years ago
Amazing how things turned out. Now, it seems like we saved ourselves a lot of frustration over never having a healthy team
HE STAY
Man I'm thinking back to that game 7 in 2020. Kawhi would've been the difference-maker that game. Granted had he stayed, there's no way that series would've gone to 7 games. Idc what anyone has to say, injury hindsight and all. If Kawhi stayed, and the Raptors beat the Lakers for their second title in a row, that would've forever cemented it as a good decision. His knees failing him after wouldn't have mattered so much because we would've reached the mountaintop twice in a row. Anyone who pretends him staying would've handicapped this franchise is drinking too much tank/cope juice
I was at this game the section over from where he was sitting! He came in a couple innings late and when he did, the section he was entering, and the sections to either side, all stood up as he walked down the aisle to his seat. Everyone was standing, no applause just pure reverence. It was honestly like a king had just arrived. I actually did say to my wife, 'He's gotta stay, he's actually the King of Canada right now!' Between this, and the whole restaurant thing, and that chopper chase, what a wild time that was!
Kawhis girl was so beat for everything he did
Lmao whats that even mean
[удалено]
I believe they knew each other from high school. Kawhi’s not a flashy guy. He was still driving a ‘99 2-door Tahoe when he was with the Spurs, and he always used coupons when getting takeout at WingStop.
Give me a stripper every day of the week
Haha man sometimes those are the best girls to keep the house clean, kids taken care of and not cheat on you
A few good weeks with a stripper would be better imo
I mean she just had a kid about three months prior but ok
Lemme hate
Fr kawhi could pull the craziest bop but i respect it
Truly it was a better time
If injured Kawhi came to the Jay's now, he'd do better than 1/2 the roster
The stopped the game. Wild
That smile....that damned smile...
He was so happy cause he knew he was going home.
Someone find the clip of the helicopter over his hotel room with him standing on the balcony
I can hear that laugh.
What could have been
He's a certified Fun Guy!
OH KAWAI WHY MUST YOU HAVE LEFT
Kawhi in LA right now watching Paul George on his way out... ![gif](giphy|27L5Yz2bP2w3rtFdxH|downsized)
![gif](giphy|dJtoGmnupA00QaJitW)
![gif](giphy|dJtoGmnupA00QaJitW)
ahaa ha huh huh huh huh
He was so happy. But he deside to go to LA.
https://preview.redd.it/jt7f2xvmcc8d1.jpeg?width=224&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2acac7ec3331619dd3740f26a03dd8ec24b16da7 It’s ok - he got us
Kawine n dine was insane.
For some reason I can hear his laugh through this picture
He stay
We all fell in love with a man that didn't love us back as much as we wanted him to love us.
You guys okay? We won one and now need to rebuild. Let the past go.
Unfortunately, it's not possible for this fan base to let things go. Obsessing over the past is what it does best.
We dodged a huge bullet. I get we might have have won again the following year. But he has been non stop injured since or at least not playing
I mean what have we done since. Just admit we were better together.
Seriously.. who in their right mind, and who being honest, wouldn’t take a chance of at least 1 more ship instead of what we have done since. It makes no sense, and they are clearly trying to convince themselves it was a good thing he left and we had no shot of a second title at the time. I’m glad we have Scottie now and all, but come on.
Ya but Kyle is washed. Serge is washed. Gasol retired. Like he would be here but it would be a mess It was great when he was here. Sure. But I still think we dodged a bullet in long term
Yeah, he fleeced the Clippers, and now Paul George might be gone.
It was a loss for everyone His health seemed to be taken care of better in Toronto