It’s good to be in the NBA, and it’s especially good to be Kawhi Leonard. 

Even if the contract extension the Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday with their new/old star forward will be the last deal the 35-year-old signs, Leonard would retire after the 2028-29 season having earned nearly $500 million playing basketball. Plus, quite literally, who knows how much more via, ahem, his 'endorsements.'

But context matters. And in the context of the Raptors signing Leonard, it matters that he signed for two years and $115 million — and not for the maximum $126-million extension he was eligible to sign on a deal that covers 2027-28 and 2028-29. 

In the apron era, ever dollar saved matters. 

The $11-million discount the Raptors got on Leonard’s contract represents $5.5 million per year of wiggle room general manager Bobby Webster will have heading into the next two off-seasons. It could be the difference in signing a veteran free agent to shore up a roster weakness or build on a strength. 

The deal and the way it’s structured is also roughly comparable to a couple other contracts some older, yet highly productive, NBA stars have signed recently. 

Kevin Durant, for example, signed a two-year, $90-million extension with the Houston Rockets last year that kicks in for this season. And while that’s less than Leonard got with the Raptors, Durant’s deal covers his age 38 and 39 seasons. It’s a lot of money, but like Leonard, Durant in his late 30s remains one of the NBA’s best players. 

And then there’s the three-year, $96.5-million deal that James Harden signed with Cleveland this summer that will cover his age 37, 38 and........

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