PARIS – When Kawhi Leonard chose to leave Toronto after one one season and one championship, he had no idea at the time how much his departure would end up influencing the future of Canadian basketball.

Leonard agreed to the deal to go home and to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent, but his signing was predicated on the Clippers acquiring star forward Paul George in a separate transaction.

This is Team Canada's time in Olympic basketball. And this is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's time to become the summer version of Sidney Crosby{ai:summary}<p>Kawhi Leonard's one-season stint in Toronto, crowned with a championship, turned Canadian basketball on its head. When he headed to the Clippers, it wasn't just a farewell; it set off a ripple where talent flowed and fortunes shifted.  </p><p>A future forged in departure, with Paul George joining the fray, transforming the landscape of the game. #sports</p>

From ordinary to extraordinary: The remarkable rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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