Though his jersey may have said Toronto, Raptors fans across the country B次元官网网址� and beyond B次元官网网址� are in mourning after star player Kawhi Leonard opted to leave CanadaB次元官网网址檚 only NBA team.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP, who joined TorontoB次元官网网址檚 team just a year ago when he was traded by the San Antonio Spurs, has reportedly signed with the LA Clippers after carrying the Raptors to the NBA Championship for the first time in franchise history last month.

William Om, a 27-year-old Raptors fan from Montreal, said itB次元官网网址檚 painful to see an elite player come to Canada only to leave after such a brief period.

B次元官网网址淚t hurts everybody, because of course we want to keep the best players,B次元官网网址� he said in a phone interview.

But he said Leonard has won over his allegiance, regardless of where he takes his talents. In fact, Om said heB次元官网网址檚 already ordered a Clippers jersey with LeonardB次元官网网址檚 name on the back.

B次元官网网址淲hat happened in Toronto, the way he played and everything, made me admire him a little more,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漀o matter where he goes IB次元官网网址檒l support him as a Clipper.B次元官网网址�

But while some fans such as Om are grateful for LeonardB次元官网网址檚 efforts B次元官网网址� #ThankYouKawhi was trending on Twitter Saturday after news of his departure broke B次元官网网址� others are not so generous.

VIDEO:

Andrew Ostasz, 33, of Hamilton said he was B次元官网网址渄isgustedB次元官网网址� with the way Leonard left the team.

B次元官网网址淭he Raptors brought him here to give him every chance to succeed B次元官网网址� basically turned him into the top three player in the league,B次元官网网址� Ostasz said.

That sentiment was echoed by Manuel Lutz, who would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to watch the Raptors play from his home in southern Germany.

B次元官网网址淎s I heard it, I was furious. How could he do that?B次元官网网址� the 40-year-old fan said.

But Lutz said his heart has softened in the time since the news came out. He now sees that itB次元官网网址檚 best to let Leonard go.

B次元官网网址淭here is a saying in Germany, B次元官网网址榙o not keep travellers from travellingB次元官网网址�, and thatB次元官网网址檚 the way I see the position right now,B次元官网网址� he said.

As the acceptance begins to settle in, fans are turning their attention to all that Leonard brought to the Raptors in his short time in Toronto.

B次元官网网址淚 never thought this would happen in my lifetime. I never thought IB次元官网网址檇 see Toronto win a championship,B次元官网网址� said Corey West, 38, of Halifax.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 really be mad because he gave you the one thing that we wanted,B次元官网网址� West said. B次元官网网址淚t shouldnB次元官网网址檛 tarnish his legacy because he did the one thing no one else really could and that was to lead us to a championship B次元官网网址� So I think he should be remembered fondly.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE:

B次元官网网址擶ith files from Olivia Blackmore in Halifax, Morgan Lowrie in Montreal and Brenna Owen in Vancouver.

Lidia Abraha, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .