The NBA finally approved Kawhi Leonard‘s trade back to the Toronto Raptors this week, ending a long offseason standoff. The Los Angeles Clippers and Raptors agreed on the blockbuster move in June, but league officials froze the transaction while conducting a salary cap circumvention investigation.
While the heavy organizational penalties landed hardest on the Clippers franchise, Stephen A. Smith still put Leonard directly in the crosshairs on First Take
Stephen A. Smith rips Kawhi Leonard on First Take
The deal is officially set to send Leonard north in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a massive package of draft assets. However, Smith didn’t hold back the moment the blockbuster trade finally cleared.
“Kawhi Leonard… he’s a gangster,” Smith said. “He broke the rules, got caught, pointed the finger at somebody else, threw the organization under the bus, got his money and left the country.”
“Kawhi Leonard… he’s a gangster. He broke the rules, got caught, pointed the finger at somebody else, threw the organization under the bus, got his money and left the country” – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/eRoy3uTLpt
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 15, 2026
Smith, known as one of the most outspoken sports personalities on television, did not hold back after the league handed down its final ruling. His blunt commentary reflected the massive penalties the NBA levied against Los Angeles following the salary cap circumvention investigation.
The league hit the organization hard, imposing a $30 million fine and forcing the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks starting in 2029. The executive fallout was severe. Owner Steve Ballmer and team president Gillian Zucker both received one-year suspensions, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months.
Surprisingly, Leonard, who was the center of the investigation for his $28 million “no-show job” arrangement, received a far lighter penalty. The two-time Finals MVP completely escaped a game suspension, walking away with just a $700,000 restitution fine to the league.
Through his agent, the seven-time All-Star said he didn’t know about “anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” adding, “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused.”
That massive gap between the organization’s heavy penalties and Leonard’s light fine fueled Smith’s viral “gangster” branding on television. Leonard now heads back to the team where he won Finals MVP in 2019. But now he is 35. And with Smith’s fiery rant, the conversation around the investigation and the scandal is not going anywhere anytime soon.
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