OAKLAND, Calif. — The more the Toronto Raptors were around Kawhi Leonard this season, the more they took on his personality.
By time the playoffs arrived, the Raptors were all business — resolute, relentless, resilient with a stone-faced calm. Never rattled, not even on the road against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
“His demeanor has kind of taken a big part of our team,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. “And we have some guys that are fiery and feisty, but we all kind of just stay level-headed and never get too up, never get too down.”
That even-keeled persona, led by Leonard’s consistently wonderful effort, propelled the Raptors to their first championship in the franchise’s 24-year history.
Toronto defeated Golden State 114-110 in Game 6 on Thursday, putting the exclamation mark on an unexpected championship.