Raptors Still Paying Karmic Price for Kawhi Shot as They Fall in 2025 Draft
The Toronto Raptors’ misfortunes in the NBA Draft Lottery continued in 2025, as the team slipped to the 9th overall pick despite entering with a 7.5% chance at the top spot and nearly 32% odds to land in the top four. For a franchise still seeking to reclaim its former glory, the result felt like another symbolic twist in a long-running saga—one that some fans are calling the “karmic price” of Kawhi Leonard’s miracle shot in 2019.
That unforgettable Game 7 buzzer-beater against the 76ers propelled the Raptors to their only NBA championship, but since Leonard’s departure, the team has struggled to find stability and a new cornerstone. Those difficulties were compounded in 2024, when Toronto lost its first-round pick—8th overall—to the San Antonio Spurs due to the Jakob Poeltl trade. The pick was top-six protected, but lottery results didn’t swing in Toronto’s favor.
Now, in back-to-back years, the Raptors have seen potentially franchise-altering picks slip away or fall short. The 2025 outcome again limits their ability to secure an elite prospect in a draft class expected to feature top-tier talent. While the recent acquisition of Brandon Ingram provides some hope for short-term competitiveness, long-term rebuilding efforts are hampered.
Fans and analysts alike are questioning the franchise’s direction. The combination of missed lottery luck and lingering effects of aggressive past trades has left the team in a precarious spot. While Kawhi’s shot brought eternal glory in 2019, the aftershocks are still being felt in Toronto’s front office and on the court.
The Raptors must now rely on smart drafting, player development, and perhaps another bold move to break the cycle and chart a course back to relevance in the Eastern Conference.
