While Kawhi Leonard appeared in fewer than 100 games wearing a Raptors uniform, the mark that he left on the franchise in under the span of a calendar year will forever be felt.

After joining Toronto via an offseason trade, Leonard was the force behind a historic run to the franchise's first-ever NBA title. Does Leonard deserve to be immortalized with a statue for his contributions? Former Raptors teammate C.J. Miles has a nuanced opinion on the concept.

"It's hard to say yes but I could see why you could argue it," Miles said during an appearance on Theo Pinson's "Run Your Race" podcast. "It's hard to say yes but then it's the first [championship] — he makes the shot that gets them there against Philly but getting a statue — it's a lot of groundwork that go into getting a statue."

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Miles, who joined the Raptors one year before Leonard and spent 40 games with Toronto before being traded to Memphis, added more context, giving his perspective on what was already going on before Leonard's arrival.

"He kind of got handed stuff that was already there, too," Miles added. "Not disrespecting what he did. But if you go look at the other statues, them is all guys that went through the hard times to get there. He didn't have to do that."

Does Kawhi deserve a statue in Toronto? 🤔

“It’s a lot of groundwork going into getting a statue. Like he kind of got handed stuff that was already there too. Not disrespecting what he did but if you go look at the other statues...”

- CJ Miles

(Via: Run Your Race) pic.twitter.com/RpnTYP3fT1

— Tidal League (@TidalLeague) December 12, 2023

While Leonard's role in leading the Raptors to the promised land isn't up for debate, Miles' take was based on the fact that other players who received statues often took the blame for the team's misfortunes before ultimately breaking through to win an NBA title.

In the season before making the trade to acquire Leonard, the Raptors earned the East's top seed with a 59-23 record, though they bowed out with a disappointing sweep in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Miles was a key member of that team's famed bench mob, averaging 10.0 points per game while shooting 36.1 percent from deep during the regular season.

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After acquiring Leonard in July of 2018, the Raptors posted a 58-24 record and finished second in the Eastern Conference, earning their first-ever trip to the NBA Finals thanks to Leonard's averages of 31.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists over the first three rounds. Leonard was named Finals MVP after averaging 28.5 points in Toronto's series victory over Golden State.

Leonard's efforts with the Raptors are immortalized by a mural of his Sixers game-winner at the Toronto-Pearson International Airport, the banner hanging at Scotiabank Arena and, of course, the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Whether or not he one day receives a statue of his likeness remains to be seen.