So that Kawhi Leonard trade worked out pretty well for the Toronto Raptors. For the first time in NBA history, the Raptors are NBA champions after taking down the Golden State Warriors 114-110 in Game 6 on Thursday night at Oracle Arena. It’s also the first NBA title for Canada.
CANADA, THE @NBA TITLE IS YOURS! #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/QaCvuX5bsK
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) June 14, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4USsy7RWN8
And Leonard was the easy choice for NBA Finals MVP after averaging 28.5 points per game in the series. It’s his second Finals MVP (the first one came with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014).
#WetheNorth Kawhi Leonard is the 3rd player in history to win #NBAFinals MVP with 2 different franchises pic.twitter.com/gl3Jn8gQMZ
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 14, 2019
Game 6 may have gone differently if Kevin Durant played (tore his Achilles in Game 5), or if Klay Thompson hadn’t exited with a knee injury.
How did Klay Thompson come back into the game after this? His knee looks like it’s dislocated on this play pic.twitter.com/yC7hqwmGNk
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 14, 2019
But the Raptors took advantage of the opportunity and played a remarkable series. Winning three games at Oracle Arena was particularly incredible.
It will be interesting to see how the Raptors and Warriors handle the offseason, and there was already a #WojBomb just minutes after Game 6.
ESPN Sources: The Washington Wizards are preparing to make a prolific offer to Toronto's championship architect Masai Ujiri — as much as $10M annually — to run its basketball operations. https://t.co/KQf18YUkLN
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 14, 2019
But for now it’s party time for the Raptors and Canada.
This is incredible. 37 floors up and we can hear the entire city of #Toronto erupting in celebration after the @Raptors won the championship. (Sound on) #WeTheNorh pic.twitter.com/WWfi3ZICcy
— Greg Vanier (@GregVanier) June 14, 2019