Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard have been on the floor together for virtually every drill of this weekB次元官网网址檚 Raptors training camp. And while time will tell if these are the early days of a budding bromance, coach Nick Nurse said heB次元官网网址檚 at least seen a level of mutual respect between the two stars.

B次元官网网址淢aybe theyB次元官网网址檙e doing some shooting drills and Kawhi hits 19 out of 20, and Kyle is like B次元官网网址楳an, I didnB次元官网网址檛 know you shot it that good,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Nurse said by way of example. B次元官网网址淜yle then goes and answers it by shooting 19-of-20 and Kawhi is like B次元官网网址業 didnB次元官网网址檛 know you could shoot that good either.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more of them just seeing what each guy has got in their package and maybe just acknowledging it more than anything right now.B次元官网网址�

RELATED:

Lowry spoke to reporters Friday for the first time since MondayB次元官网网址檚 media day press conference. The four-time all-star had finally talked at media day about DeMar DeRozan, his former teammate and good friend B次元官网网址� and other half of the Raptors B次元官网网址渂romance,B次元官网网址� as it was often described B次元官网网址� and promised heB次元官网网址檇 be all-business when camp opened.

Friday, Lowry grumbled when a reporter accidentally hit him with her microphone, swatting it away with his hand.

But he had kind words for Leonard, the former San Antonio superstar who the Raptors acquired for DeRozan.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been in almost every group together. We have to be on the same page, I think weB次元官网网址檙e going to be on the same page,B次元官网网址� said Lowry, in a black baseball cap and grey hoodie zipped up to his neck.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a heck of a player and us being on the same page makes everything a lot easier and getting everyone else on the same page will come.

B次元官网网址淔or us itB次元官网网址檚 where he wants the ball, and we just have to talk. One thing about him right now is heB次元官网网址檚 talking to everyone B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e just trying to figure out where we want to be, let him know where we like it and heB次元官网网址檚 letting us know where he likes it, thatB次元官网网址檚 all communication also.B次元官网网址�

Leonard hadnB次元官网网址檛 played five-on-five basketball since last January. He played just nine games last season due to a quadriceps injury. Lowry was impressed by what heB次元官网网址檚 seen so far from his new six-foot-seven teammate, who twice was named the leagueB次元官网网址檚 top defender.

B次元官网网址淥ne thing I noticed before even playing is heB次元官网网址檚 a big man, heB次元官网网址檚 a big dude. And heB次元官网网址檚 just getting his legs under him,B次元官网网址� Lowry said. B次元官网网址淥nce he gets his legs under him, weB次元官网网址檒l see some spectacular things for sure, offensively, defensively, that he can do.B次元官网网址�

Do they see the game the way?

B次元官网网址淲e want to win. ThatB次元官网网址檚 all that matters. Winning makes everything else (work).B次元官网网址�

The Raptors revamped their offence last season to share the ball more. Think: equal opportunity offence. Without the ball in his hands as much as he was accustomed to, however, Lowry struggled in the early season.

Now Nurse, who was promoted to head coach after Dwane Casey was fired, wants Lowry to take back some control.

B次元官网网址淚 have asked him to take a little bit more of the offensive thought power. I am not a coach who needs to call a set every time up and down the floor,B次元官网网址� the 51-year-old coach said.

B次元官网网址淚 want him to feel what is going on and run some of the stuff he likes to run, or if he feels like someone needs a shot he can tweak something. If he is tired or out of ideas he can look over and maybe IB次元官网网址檒l throw a few at him.

B次元官网网址淏ut I would like him to be more of the guy B次元官网网址� like I told him I am putting the ball in his stomach and he needs to run the offence a little bit B次元官网网址� taking more of a playcalling role, like a quarterback in football maybe.B次元官网网址�

Lowry turned down two days of media requests this week at camp. But if there was anything to be derived from his silence, his teammates say on the court nothing has changed.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 Kyle,B次元官网网址� said veteran C.J. Miles. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 fiery, pitbull, tries to win every drill, will let you know about it. HeB次元官网网址檚 playing hard. HeB次元官网网址檚 doing what heB次元官网网址檚 supposed to do. HeB次元官网网址檚 a professional.

B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of things (such as trades) that are a part of this game that we donB次元官网网址檛 like as individuals, as people, because we make these bonds. Our families get to know each other,B次元官网网址� Miles added.

B次元官网网址淭hose two guys obviously had been together for a long time. I understand that B次元官网网址� everybody should. The second we got into camp, and we get in between those lines, we understand what it is. Now weB次元官网网址檙e teammates. Now you accept those other guys into the family and you start to build a relationship. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what it is.B次元官网网址�

Lowry, who famously butted heads with Casey when he first arrived in Toronto via a trade in the summer of 2012, has at least had the benefit of having worked with Nurse in the five years the coach had on CaseyB次元官网网址檚 bench as an assistant.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 different. HeB次元官网网址檚 a heach coach now, you move down (the bench) 12 inches itB次元官网网址檚 a big jump,B次元官网网址� Lowry said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a long year. Every day is going to be a new day and different way of figuring things out.B次元官网网址�

Nurse praised LowryB次元官网网址檚 basketball IQ, saying itB次元官网网址檚 among the highest heB次元官网网址檚 seen. It makes teaching that much easier.

B次元官网网址淚nstead of me drawing a whole thing out or walking through a whole thing, I can just say B次元官网网址楢ction. Action. Action. Action,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Nurse said. B次元官网网址滱nd heB次元官网网址檚 like B次元官网网址楪ot ya.B次元官网网址� Like heB次元官网网址檚 got it.B次元官网网址�

Lowry and Leonard will see their first official action together on Saturday when the Raptors open the pre-season in Vancouver against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .