Kawhi Leonard sighting has Toronto freaking out; Jalen says he’s staying

Kawhi Leonard’s arrival in Toronto was treated like a live TV police chase before basketball fans were quickly forced to cool their jets.

Cool your jets, NBA fans.

As the basketball world waits for Kawhi Leonard to announce his next team — a decision that by latest reports may still not happen before the weekend — all eyes turned to a certain plane.

CP24, a Canadian TV news channel not available in the United States, showed live coverage of the Raptors’ team plane landing in Toronto, with Leonard believed to be on it.

The plane reportedly arrived from Los Angeles International Airport, and the speculation led to #KawhiWatch trending on Twitter.

I can't believe this is a thing on TV right now #KawhiWatch #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/slUuFoPG2c

— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) July 3, 2019

I can't believe Kawhi is being tracked by helicopters right now lol. The internet is wild: in a matter of hours this went from a forum post to a national story. Bobby created a monster, and some truly legendary content. https://t.co/4woOZwNXQJ

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 3, 2019

CP24 is showing live aerial shots of the MLSE plane landing in Toronto. 3 guys got off the plane and into SUVs. Looked like they were wearing New Balance. One had a towel over his head. They're now following the SUVs down the highway. This isn't abnormal at all.

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) July 3, 2019

the off-season doesn’t really start until we start tracking aircraft

— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) July 3, 2019

The Raptors are getting the last meeting with Leonard after the Lakers and Clippers — and have re-emerged as favourite to hang on to the Finals MVP.

Four men could be seen leaving the plane and getting into a black SUV. A CP24 helicopter followed the SUV after it left the airport and broadcast its movements. With news of Leonard’s alleged return to Toronto, a crowd grew outside the Hazelton Hotel, where Leonard is believed to be meeting with Raptors president Masai Ujiri.

This is the growing crowd outside the Hazelton Hotel in #Toronto where it's believed Kawhi Leonard is about to meet with Raptors pres Ujiri and GM Webster

(Video: @GregRoss17)#KawhiWatch pic.twitter.com/tcBUtB7KSc

— James Wattie (@jameswattie) July 3, 2019

Before free agency started, Toronto’s mayor John Tory asked his city to do just the opposite with their superstar.

“If you see him, say ‘Thank you’ and move on and let him enjoy himself,” Tory said at a news conference.

Have we ever witnessed something like #KawhiWatch??? 😂

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) July 3, 2019

JALEN ROSE: KAWHI RETURNING TO TORONTO

Former NBA player and ESPN analyst Jalen Rose has declared as confidently as anyone reporting on Leonard’s future he’s staying in Canada.

“I’m 99 per cent hearing Kawhi Leonard will be returning to Toronto and signing a two-year contract,” Rose said on ESPN.

“He’s just completed his eighth season, that will put him at 10 years and in position to sign the largest available maximum deal.”

Let’s get something clear I was one of the few people that picked Toronto to win and Gave Kawhi Jordan his name! I’ve said several times that if I was Kawhi I would stay in Toronto

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) July 3, 2019

But as has been the case with this story from the start, conflicting reports emerged.

The Athletic’s Jabari Young tweeted “no two-year deals have been discussed”.

On the Kawhi front, told he’s not making a decision tonight and it may not be until the next few days. He and his reps are going through the process and taking their time before deciding the next move. No 2-year deals have been discussed. #NBA @TheAthleticNBA

— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) July 4, 2019