The biggest news rocking the NBA world is that Kawhi Leonard was shockingly snubbed from the 2026 NBA All-Star Game reserves. Leonard is the first player ever in NBA history to post his current numbers and not get an All-Star nod.
As reported by ClutchPoints, Leonard’s omission from the All-Star roster, which is set to play at the Intuit Dome later this month, is particularly egregious when you look at his output. Leonard is absolutely cooking this season, averaging a personal career-high 27.7 points per game.
He’s also putting up 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 steals. That 2.1 steals average currently leads the entire NBA, and his 93.6 percent free-throw shooting is also the highest in the league. Leonard, who has denied praise for his recent extraordinary play, has been navigating some ongoing ankle and knee issues, but he’s still played in 34 of the Clippers’ 49 games.
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Leonard Should’ve Deserved A Nomination
What makes the snub even worse is the context of the Clippers’ season turnaround. The team started the 2025-26 regular season rough, hitting a low point with a brutal 6-21 record back in the middle of December. Since that terrible start, Leonard has absolutely put the team on his back. They’ve gone on a blistering 16-4 run and have climbed all the way back up to a 22-25 record; a kind of leadership and winning impact should be rewarded with an All-Star selection.
Naturally, the team is just as shocked as the fans are. LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue didn’t hold back when he spoke before the game against the Suns. He was very clear about where Leonard stands in the league hierarchy.
“It was tough,” Lue stated. “Congratulations to all the guys that made it. They all deserve it, as well. But Kawhi, I think, to me, the last six weeks has been the best player in the NBA.”
Lue pointed directly to Leonard’s near 50/40/90 efficiency and the way he helped pull the team out of their massive losing hole. Lue continued, “Like you said, 50/40/90, averaging 28 points a game, and what he’s done to bring his team out of the hole. We started 6-21 to be where we’re at today, it was just tough to see. So I feel bad for Kawhi, but happy for all the guys that were selected.”
Leonard isn’t the only highly productive star who got left off this year. He joins his teammate James Harden and Brooklyn Nets star Michael Porter Jr. as the only three players this season averaging at least 25 points, four rebounds, and three assists who weren’t selected.
With the All-Star Game approaching quickly, there’s still a small chance Leonard could suit up. The league often names injury replacements, and if someone like LeBron James, who extended his historic All-Star streak, can’t play, Commissioner Adam Silver would have to name a substitute.
It’s also worth noting that this year features the unique USA versus the World format, which could complicate things for international players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Donovan Mitchell, and Norman Powell, depending on how the rosters are ultimately sorted.
Published: Feb 2, 2026 04:18 pm