Kawhi Leonard is cleared to play his first game back with the Raptors on Tuesday night

Kawhi Leonard is about to play a game in a Toronto Raptors uniform again. It will be his first since he led the franchise to the 2019 NBA championship.

Cleared after a full practice

Head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters on Monday that Leonard will be available for Tuesday night's preseason game against the New York Knicks in Toronto. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. Central.

Leonard took part in all of Monday's practice and Rajakovic said he feels great. The coach would not say how many minutes the 35-year-old forward will play.

Leonard sat out Toronto's first two exhibition games while he ramped up. His summer was complicated by a trade from the LA Clippers that sat in limbo for months before it was finalized in September. Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and several draft picks went to Los Angeles in the deal.

Taking it slow

"I feel good. Being smart, taking it slow," Leonard said after Monday's session. He added that he is still learning the names of the coaches and the plays Rajakovic has put in over the past few years.

Tuesday will give fans a first look at Leonard next to Raptors star Scottie Barnes. It should be a soft landing because the Knicks are not expected to play their starters on the second night of a back-to-back.

What he brings back

Leonard is coming off one of the best statistical seasons of his career. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points over 65 games with the Clippers last season, made the All-Star team and was named second-team All-NBA.

He owns two championships and two Finals MVP awards, one with San Antonio in 2014 and one with Toronto in 2019.

The Raptors play the Knicks again Thursday in New York and close the preseason Friday against the Detroit Pistons. The regular season opens Oct. 21 against the Chicago Bulls.