Raptors Twitter was ignited Saturday morning following reports that Kawhi Leonard will be signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.

But instead of anger or resentment for a player deciding to leave Toronto after just one season, the Twitter outpouring showed a Raptors fan base that was filled with gratitude for a superstar who led them to their first NBA championship in franchise history less than a month ago.

B次元官网网址淩etire his jersey and build this man a statue,B次元官网网址� tweeted Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi, who grew up in Toronto while his father played for the Maple Leafs. B次元官网网址淣o one can ever take away what he has done for this city and this country. What a ride. Thank you Kawhi!B次元官网网址�

Retire his jersey and build this man a statue. No one can ever take away what he has done for this city and this country. What a ride. Thank you Kawhi! 馃悙馃嚚馃嚘馃弨

B次元官网网址� Max Domi (@max_domi)

B次元官网网址 of LeonardB次元官网网址檚 decision broke early Saturday morning, with a person familiar with the negotiations adding that the Clippers will be landing Leonard after they acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a massive trade for players and draft picks.

Leonard was arguably the most coveted prize in this yearB次元官网网址檚 free agent market, and the 28-year-old met with several teams this week including the Lakers and Clippers B次元官网网址� both in his hometown of Los Angeles B次元官网网址� and the Raptors.

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Canadian tennis player Denis Shapovalov, who grew up in nearby Richmond Hill, Ont., tweeted: B次元官网网址淲elcome home Kawhi. Thanks for everything.B次元官网网址�

The news ended months of speculation and angst for Raptors fans who awaited LeonardB次元官网网址檚 decision for days after free agency opened last Sunday.

No one seemed to know which way Leonard was leaning. Some, like former Raptor turned TV analyst Jalen Rose were certain the star would return to Toronto. Rose said on air days ago he was B次元官网网址�99 per cent hearingB次元官网网址� Leonard would re-sign.

B次元官网网址淚 was wrong. Dead wrong,B次元官网网址� Rose tweeted Saturday. B次元官网网址淣o one saw this timeline or the Clips also adding PG! Wow!!!B次元官网网址�

The top 10 Twitter trends in Toronto were about the move on Saturday morning. Hashtags #ThankYouKawhi and #ThankYouDanny, for Danny Green B次元官网网址� who announced he was signing with the Lakers shortly after LeonardB次元官网网址檚 decision was reported B次元官网网址� were both trending.

Toronto Mayor John Tory, who frequently wore a black blazer adorned with gold Raptors logos during the post-season and at the championship parade, sent out a message to Leonard in a video posted to his Twitter account.

B次元官网网址淢aybe he didnB次元官网网址檛 like the jacket,B次元官网网址� Tory quipped at the start of the video.

Our has ended. for the NBA championship that you helped to bring to Toronto with your teammates.

B次元官网网址� John Tory (@JohnTory)

B次元官网网址淜awhi, you brought us a championship and thatB次元官网网址檚 important in this city. We havenB次元官网网址檛 had many of those in recent times and itB次元官网网址檚 going to get us on a very positive wavelength where weB次元官网网址檙e going to have more,B次元官网网址� Tory continued. B次元官网网址淎nd make no mistake, when you come back here thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be no mercy. WeB次元官网网址檒l still love you but thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be no mercy when you come back here and play our Raptors because theyB次元官网网址檙e going to be in it and theyB次元官网网址檙e going to win it again.

B次元官网网址淲e just wish we could do it with you but we wish you all the very best and we say thank you very much for the inspiration and the excitement that you brought to Toronto and for the winner that you helped to bring to Toronto with your Raptor teammates.B次元官网网址�

UFC fighter Max Holloway, a Honolulu native and known Raptors supporter, said on Twitter that he was B次元官网网址済rateful to be a fan.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 have to follow basketball to know Kawhi helped bring a lot more than a championship to Toronto,B次元官网网址� Holloway said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just grateful to be a fan and got to witness it. IB次元官网网址檓 super happy the champ gets to go home now.B次元官网网址�

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Olympic athletes also showed their support for Leonard via social media, including former kayaker Adam van Koeverden, the gold medallist from the 2004 Athens Games.

B次元官网网址淔un (guy) while it lasted,B次元官网网址� van Koeverden said, referencing one of LeonardB次元官网网址檚 first quotes with the Raptors B次元官网网址� which New Balance transformed into an ad campaign during the playoff run. B次元官网网址淥nwards and Upwards, #WeStillTheNorth.B次元官网网址�

Canadian Olympic track star Aaron Brown tweeted a photoshopped picture of Leonard dunking the Larry OB次元官网网址橞rien trophy over Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, who the Raptors beat in the Eastern Conference final.

B次元官网网址淜awhi Leonard will Forever be a Raptor Legend,B次元官网网址� Brown said.

Melissa Couto, The Canadian Press

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