Here's how Toronto has changed since last time Kawhi was on Raptors

Kawhi Leonard was dealt to the Toronto Raptors in a shocking blockbuster trade this week, and the 2019 Finals MVP, who brought Canada its first NBA championship, will return to a very different city for the 2026-27 season.

Toronto Raptors fans will remember Leonard as the difference-maker who brought a championship pedigree to a perennial playoff-bust team, culminating in a historic victory over the Golden State Warriors to secure the 2019 NBA Championship.

Fans may remember that series and the resulting parade attended by millions, as if it were just yesterday, but it's been a full seven years since Kawhi brought glory to the north. And he will be returning to a very different-looking city.

Here are some of the biggest changes Toronto has experienced since the Kawhi era.

The city skyline

Looking at photos of the 2019 parade through downtown Toronto shows a very different city from what exists today. However, Kawhi famously interacted with Toronto from "garage-to-garage," and might not even see the countless new glittering towers that have joined the skyline for his belated victory lap in the city.

Pandemic business turnover

If Kawhi is looking to cash in on those Ka'wine & Dine offers used to woo him to re-sign with the Raptors, he might notice a few (if not many) of those restaurants no longer exist. For anyone waking up from a coma, the COVID-19 pandemic had an immense impact on Toronto businesses, and several popular spots that would have been frequented by NBA players in the before times have long since closed.

Scotiabank Arena 

The Vault has also changed in the seven years since Toronto's championship. An ongoing $350 million renovation project has been modernizing the facility since 2023, and I'd wager these will be the changes Kawhi are most likely to notice.

Population

Toronto's population has swelled from approximately 2.94 million when Kawhi won a championship with the Raptors in 2019, and now sits at over 3.35 million in 2026. Canada's population has also grown by over three million in Kawhi's seven-year absence, bringing the Raptors' Canadian fanbase to over 41 million residents.

The Canadian Dollar

A $1 purchase in 2019 will set you back $1.24 in 2026 thanks to inflation, and the general cost of living has skyrocketed in post-pandemic Toronto.

Two new transit lines

The Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch were both just construction boondoggles during the Kawhi era, but now they are both real LRT lines you can actually ride. Well, most of the time, at least.

Drinking in parks

Even the pre- and post-game activities will look a whole lot different for Kawhi's return, with alcohol consumption in Toronto parks legalized in 2024.