There was much relief in Toronto this summer when a favorite son returned to rekindle sweet memories and the taste of champagne. That’s what happened when Kawhi Leonard, hero of the 2019 championship, left Los Angeles for the Raptors.

It came as a disturbing coincidence, though, when someone else also left L.A. and returned East, which Toronto finds … too close for discomfort. That’s what LeBron James did when he signed with Philadelphia, positioning himself to potentially haunt the Raptors once more.

Over a 24-year career, LeBron owns epic victories over most — if not every team in the NBA. Yet he is the Raptors’ designated boogeyman, after years of dominance against Toronto in the regular season and playoffs. And he’s now back East, in the same division, no less, meaning multiple regular-season meetings, starting Thursday when the Raptors visit Philly (7 ET, League Pass).

He has faced the Raptors 78 times, playoffs included, and won 60. No other player has thumped the Raptors more often. He hasn’t lost in Toronto since 2019, making the city a second “home” game for him.

And that only partly tells the story — a grim one for Toronto, a compelling one for him — because his playoff victories as a member of the Cavaliers and Heat were especially rough on the Raptors. Not only did LeBron deflate them, he ultimately dismantled them in the process, causing the Raptors to make changes in 2018, which, oddly enough, led to them getting Kawhi the first time and finally securing a championship.

LeBron left the Eastern Conference then and found a home with the Lakers, a move which seemed permanent at the time, given his approaching sunset, and especially after he won the 2020 title. He built a home in L.A., placed his kids in school there, began businesses there, and planted roots. Yet in the NBA, and in life, plans change.

LeBron’s return to the East

He’s now in a unique situation for him. The Sixers are built to win — they’re currently sitting second in the East — but aren’t built around or heavily dependent on him, unlike his previous stops. His averages of 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists reflect that. He has found his fit with this team as a basketball chameleon, giving the Sixers what they need — mainly ball distribution — depending on the situation that night.

His increased focus on passing not only helps the Sixers but comes with another benefit; LeBron is 10 assists shy of catching Jason Kidd for third on the all-time list. LeBron is the only non-point guard in the top 11 and would trail just John Stockton and Chris Paul.

But what the Raptors want to know: Will their fortunes against LeBron change as well? His career averages against them are 26.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists in the regular season and 31.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.6 assists in the playoffs.

This one-sided relationship initially tilted in Toronto’s favor. LeBron lost his first two and three of his first four games against Toronto. That wasn’t unusual then; the Cavaliers were talent-strapped and in rebuilding mode with LeBron.

In 2005, at age 20, LeBron became then the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points when he dropped 56 on the Raptors, and his flexing only snowballed. Once the Cavs became one of the dominant teams, their win total came at the expense of Toronto.

At one point, Toronto lost 17 straight to LeBron. It became somewhat accepted that he would find a way, no matter the circumstances, to leave the arena satisfied that night.

Previous playoff dominance

The high point — or low, depending on the fandom — was the stretch from 2016-18 when the Raptors finally built a respectable team to challenge LeBron in his second stint with the Cavaliers, only to find the same old, same old.

Energized by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors were a top-three seed those years, and won 59 games in 2017-18 to create the appearance of a championship contender. In each of those three seasons, LeBron eliminated the Raptors in the playoffs, sweeping them in the final two.

The tipping point was the 2016 East Finals. The Raptors rallied to tie the series after losing the first two games. There was hope. There was an opening. There was disappointment. LeBron and the Cavs dominated the next two games, winning by 38 and 26 points to take the series before going on to upset the Warriors for Cleveland’s first championship.

The postseason heartbreak for Toronto continued. The next season, the Raptors were swept by LeBron in the semifinals. While announcing the series on national TV, Mark Jones coined the term “LeBronto” which became a verbal twisting of the knife. Then, in 2018, came another crushing moment, also in the semis:

After LeBron erupted for 43 points (his playoff career high vs. Toronto), 14 assists and eight rebounds in Game 2, Toronto felt spooked again. But the top-seeded Raptors rallied hard and tied Game 3 in the final seconds, showing much resolve, given the circumstances.

Cleveland had one last possession in regulation and LeBron one last chance to torment the Raptors — as it turned out, one too many for Toronto.

“Our goal,” said Raptors coach Dwane Casey then, “was to trap him and let someone else beat us.”

In what became a signature moment for him, LeBron hit a running, one-handed bank shot at the buzzer for his 38th point and the Game 3 win. The Game 4 sweep was just a formality; the Cavs won by 35. His playoff record against Toronto swelled to 12-2.

The fallout was swift. Casey was fired. The very popular yet embattled DeRozan was traded to the Spurs that summer for a disgruntled Kawhi on a one-year contract. It was a dice roll by general manager Masai Ujiri, which paid off when Kawhi eliminated the favored Sixers on a deep corner 3 in the playoffs, then followed up by beating Golden State in the NBA Finals.

That championship was orchestrated by Kawhi, yet made possible by LeBron.

Rivalry enters new era

With LeBron’s departure to the Western Conference, the Raptors were subjected to him only twice a season and none in the playoffs. Even better, LeBron as a Laker lost his first four games against Toronto. There was drama, though, in their meeting last December with the Lakers.

LeBron saw his double-digit scoring streak of 1,297 games snapped; he suffered from sciatica issues, and the ailment dogged him. He shot 4-for-17 and missed all five of his 3-pointers. When Scottie Barnes blocked LeBron’s jumper late in a tie game, it felt like a Raptors redemption, perhaps revenge.

But with another chance to shoot, and maybe even win the game in the final seconds, LeBron switched gears. After drawing the defense, he swung a whip pass to Rui Hachimura, who swished the game-winner.

“Just playing the game the right way,” LeBron said. “You always make the right play.”

Once again, LeBron impacted a victory over the Raptors, then saluted their fans.

“Mutual respect and love every time I come here and play,” he said. “Throughout my career, they’ve shown me nothing but love, even during the battles in the postseason. These fans are always appreciative of me and I try to give it back to them when I step out on the floor.”

And now, as a member of the Sixers, another chapter awaits.

But not Kawhi, at least not yet. Out since the first two games of the season, he’ll miss Thursday’s game with LeBron. Assuming Kawhi has no serious injury issues once he returns from left knee treatment, though, the Raptors will have an answer … maybe an antidote?

As for LeBron, he’s still defying age logic, still making an impact and still winning. And if that winning continues specifically against the Raptors, then it’s true that when some things change, some things remain the same.

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