“Not Even a Debate”: Scottie Pippen Drops a Bomb on Kawhi Leonard’s Raptors Legacy

When a basketball legend speaks, the sports world listens. And when Scottie Pippen — six-time NBA champion and one of the most respected voices in basketball — drops a statement like “Not even a debate”, it doesn’t just make headlines; it shakes the very foundation of fan discussions.

In a recent interview, Pippen delivered a mic-drop moment that has Raptors Nation buzzing and the broader NBA community in heated debate. His claim? That Kawhi Leonard, the man they call The Klaw, has earned the right to have his Toronto Raptors jersey retired — forever immortalized in the rafters of Scotiabank Arena.

The statement isn’t just bold. It’s explosive, because Leonard only played one season in Toronto. But oh, what a season it was.

The Season That Changed Everything

The 2018–2019 NBA season was nothing short of storybook material for the city of Toronto. Before Leonard’s arrival, the Raptors had always been a solid playoff contender but never a team that could conquer the mountain that is the NBA Finals.

Leonard’s arrival, after a blockbuster trade with the San Antonio Spurs, immediately elevated the team’s ceiling. Paired with Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and a roster of hungry, battle-tested players, Leonard became the missing piece.

That year, Leonard averaged 26.6 points per game during the regular season and an astonishing 30.5 points per game in the playoffs. He wasn’t just good — he was historic. And then there was the shot.

“The Shot” Heard Around the World

Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Score tied. Clock winding down. Leonard takes the inbound pass, races to the corner, fades away, and launches the ball over the outstretched arms of Joel Embiid.

The ball bounces. Once. Twice. Three times. And then… swish.

The crowd’s roar was earth-shattering, the moment instantly immortalized as one of the greatest plays in NBA history. That shot didn’t just send the Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals — it cemented Kawhi Leonard as a Canadian sports icon, even if he wasn’t Canadian at all.

The Finals: Slaying a Dynasty

In the NBA Finals, the Raptors faced the Golden State Warriors, a team loaded with future Hall of Famers and looking for their third straight championship. Leonard’s calm, relentless dominance became the storyline of the series.

With the Warriors plagued by injuries and Toronto playing the best basketball in its history, the Raptors seized the moment. Leonard was named Finals MVP, making him just the third player ever to win the award with two different teams.

And with that, Toronto had its first NBA Championship. The streets erupted in celebration. Millions gathered for the championship parade. The city’s sports history had a new pinnacle moment — all led by a player who had been there for only one season.

Scottie Pippen’s Case: One Season, One Legacy

To most fans, jersey retirement is reserved for players who spend years with a franchise, building their legacy brick by brick. But Pippen argues that impact can matter more than tenure.

“What Kawhi Leonard did for Toronto is not even a debate. That jersey belongs up there. He delivered something no one else did,” Pippen stated.

In his eyes, Leonard’s contributions transcend the usual metrics. One season, yes — but one season that completely altered the course of Raptors history. Without Kawhi, Pippen suggests, Toronto might still be chasing its first championship.

The Counterargument: Is One Year Enough?

Of course, not everyone agrees. Critics point out that retiring Leonard’s jersey after just 60 regular-season games with the Raptors sets a dangerous precedent. Should every player who wins a title with a team — regardless of tenure — receive the same honor?

Fans also remember Leonard’s decision to leave for the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, a move that left many feeling abandoned. While his exit was professional and drama-free, it still stung for a city that had embraced him so deeply.

Some believe jersey retirement should be about loyalty and longevity, not just impact.

Raptors History and the Rafters

So far, the Toronto Raptors have retired only two numbers:

• #6 — In honor of Hall of Famer Bill Russell (league-wide retirement by the NBA).

• #15 — For Vince Carter, the player credited with putting the Raptors on the map during the early 2000s.

Adding Leonard’s #2 would be an acknowledgment that impact outweighs years served. It would also place him alongside Carter as a foundational figure in Raptors lore — but with the distinction of having actually delivered a championship.

The Fan Divide

The Raptors fan base is deeply split. On one side, there’s the Impact Over Time camp: fans who believe that Leonard’s single season was so transformative that it justifies the honor.

“If we wait for another player to do what Kawhi did, we might be waiting forever,” one fan posted on Twitter (now X), earning thousands of likes.

On the other side, the Loyalty First camp argues that jersey retirement is about more than just hardware. They point to players like Kyle Lowry, who spent nearly a decade in Toronto, as more deserving.

The debate is passionate, messy, and highly emotional — exactly the kind of storm that fuels social media algorithms and keeps sports talk shows humming.

Why Pippen’s Words Matter

Scottie Pippen isn’t just any former player. He’s part of the NBA royalty, known for being Michael Jordan’s right-hand man during the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty years. His opinions carry weight, especially when it comes to evaluating championship legacies.

By saying Leonard’s jersey retirement is “not even a debate,” Pippen is essentially endorsing Kawhi’s place in Raptors immortality. That’s not just a hot take — it’s a statement that could influence how future generations view Leonard’s time in Toronto.

The Business Angle: What a Jersey Retirement Could Mean

Retiring Kawhi Leonard’s jersey wouldn’t just be an emotional decision — it could also be a financially savvy move. Merchandise sales would spike, with fans buying commemorative jerseys, banners, and memorabilia. The ceremony itself could draw massive TV ratings and pack Scotiabank Arena to the rafters.

And let’s be real: controversy sells. The fan divide over the decision would generate endless discussion, keeping the Raptors in the headlines well beyond the regular season.

The “What If” Scenario

Here’s the twist: what if Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto later in his career? While unlikely, it’s not impossible. In that case, the narrative could shift from “one-season wonder” to “legend who came home.”

Such a move would make Pippen’s statement look prophetic, further cementing Leonard’s bond with the city.

Looking Ahead: Will the Raptors Do It?

As of now, the Raptors organization has made no public commitment to retiring Leonard’s jersey. Team president Masai Ujiri has praised Leonard repeatedly, but the official stance is that the franchise will evaluate such honors carefully.

If history is any guide, the decision could take years. Vince Carter’s jersey wasn’t retired until long after he left Toronto. But the difference is that Carter didn’t deliver a championship. Leonard did — in spectacular, unforgettable fashion.

Final Word: Legacy Over Longevity?

Scottie Pippen’s words have reignited a conversation that seemed to be fading. In the end, the debate comes down to one question: Should the ultimate honor in sports be about the size of the impact, or the length of the commitment?

Leonard’s Raptors story is short, but it’s written in bold, permanent ink. Whether or not the Raptors decide to raise his jersey to the rafters, his place in Toronto’s sports history is already secure.

And if Pippen’s right — if it’s “not even a debate” — then the next time fans look up at the banners in Scotiabank Arena, they might just see #2 hanging there, forever.