Canadian Chris Boucher has had the opportunity to be in training camp with two former league MVPs in Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant from his time with the Golden State Warriors.
He knows the level of talent, hard work and effort it takes to be at the top of the league just watching two of the league's top players prepare — he also knows what its like to be on the opposing team in practice trying to stop them.
After the conclusion of practice on Thursday at Fortius Sport & Health in Bernady, BC in preparation for Saturday's preseason opener in Vancouver, Boucher offered high praise for newest Raptor Kawhi Leonard, a former MVP runner-up.
"He's looking great," Boucher told NBA Canada. "He has so many ways to score and he has so many ways to change his speed... it's at a point that you can't really tell if he's going to lay it up or shoot it.
"He's looking like an MVP...the guy is a two-way player — plays defence plays offence — he has a good IQ."
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"And he helps us too. People say he's quiet but he'll give (advice) if he sees something that will help you, he'll say it. That's what we need especially with him coming from the (San Antonio) Spurs and a championship team there's so much that we can learn from him and Danny (Green).
"For someone like me, I'm just like a sponge I just want to hear everything he has to say — learn the best from the best."
Saturday's preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers will be the first time Leonard steps on the court in a Raptors uniform. It may only be preseason, but there's league-wide buzz over the anticipation of Leonard's debut.
From all accounts at Raptors practice Leonard's injury is behind him and he's looking closer to the player that was amongst the conversation as the best player in the world two seasons ago.
If that's the case the ceiling for this Raptors' team will be higher than it's ever been and that might indeed put Leonard in a position to be the league's MVP.
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