Spilt Milk

It was a long time after the trade before Kawhi showed his face, which gave me the very distinct impression he wasn’t happy to be coming to Toronto. Now, he’s history. Thanks for stopping by, Kawhi.

During his season here - albeit a championship one - the city - the entire country - poured out its love for Kawhi. Condos, free restaurant meals, plants; you name it, and he was offered it by excited basketball fans!

Now, most conciliatory Canadians have accepted that he wanted to go home. I think as a professional athlete, having achieved what he did with this city, this country and his teammates, he could have - and should have - easily done one more year to thank Canadian fans for the support they showed him and to make it clear to fans that the city, the country, the team and the championship, meant more to him than a mere fling he was coerced into by a trade.

Of course, unless you’re Canadian, you can’t know what it means to be appreciated by our entire country. You have to understand how big and magnificent our country is before you can have any sense of the breadth of appreciation being showered upon you.

True, I got a Raptors NBA championship t-shirt out of the deal, but I haven’t worn it yet. It’s a heckuva nice shirt, but wearing it just seems to advertise the fact that it ain’t happening again because Kawhi bailed. There are certainly some pretty high-flying memories too, but they’re tainted by the absence of key players.

Remember that guy, Kawhi?

Even before the season ended, like so many other fans, I hoped he was going to stay. His time here would mean so much more. Same thing for the playoffs. I kept saying to my wife and son, it would feel pretty lousy to win the championship and have him leave. It would be as if he was unwillingly detoured here, lifted us out of our mediocrity and then, just as quickly, dropped us back in it before resuming his trajectory of choice. From a fan’s point of view, that’s not exactly a dream “team” scenario. Sure, they functioned as a team during the regular season and playoffs, but, to me, there always seemed to be instances where it felt like Kawhi was apart.

I got a t-shirt, but I would have preferred getting a team out of that championship year, one that is happy to be playing for their stoked fans and one that’s excited to take at least one more run at a championship next season. Imagine having a “team-by-choice” win a second championship to go along with the one won by a “team-by-trade”.

It’s possible Raptors players, having seen basketball greatness up close, have learned more about what it takes, in terms of mental toughness and physical performance, to pursue a championship. I am certain the Toronto players are better for what they observed.

As I said in my tweets and to friends during the regular season and playoffs, Kyle is the steady heart and soul of the Raptors. He’s invested seven seasons here and it means a lot to me as a fan that he chose to spend his time and energy in Canada. He has said he would like to stay here longer term and I hope they can make that happen at the end of the season.

If Toronto never wins another championship, Kawhi will have been a fortuitous blip in its basketball legacy. If Toronto wins a bunch more championships, Kawhi will have been that load-managed loaner who hightailed it out of here as soon as he got the chance. One more year, a decision to stay here by choice, would have made it mean so much more.

If Kawhi wins a bunch more championships, Toronto will have been a fortuitous but largely overshadowed blip in his basketball legacy. It will likely mean more to Toronto than to Kawhi. If he never wins another championship, Toronto will have been a fortuitous blip in his basketball legacy. It may mean more to Kawhi than to Toronto.

Will he ever have the adulation of an entire nation again? It’s possible, but not likely. Be that as it may, it’s spilt milk.

My wife says even though he’s gone, Kawhi has been saying all these nice things about Toronto and Canada. I say - actions speak louder than words.

Truth is, I’m trying not to dwell on it. Kawhi bother.