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LOS ANGELES — After what many fans and analysts believed was an early All-Star snub, Kawhi Leonard is officially headed to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES — After what many fans and analysts believed was an early All-Star snub, Kawhi Leonard is officially headed to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Leonard as an addition to the U.S. player pool, solidifying the Clippers star’s place in the league’s midseason showcase. The 75th NBA All-Star Game will be held Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Clippers’ new home, the Intuit Dome, tipping off at 2 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
Leonard’s selection marks the seventh All-Star appearance of his career (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024) and his fourth as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He is now one of just three players in franchise history to earn at least four All-Star selections with the team.
A Career Year in Year 14
Now in his 14th NBA season, Leonard is putting together one of the most efficient and dominant campaigns of his career. Through 36 games — all starts — he is averaging a career-high 27.6 points, along with 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals in 32.9 minutes per game.
Leonard is shooting 49.7% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range and an elite 91.3% from the free-throw line. He currently leads the NBA in steals, ranks seventh in scoring, and is the only forward this season to rank in the league’s top 10 in both points and steals.
“Kawhi, to me, over the last six weeks has been the best player in the NBA,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. “Fifty–40–90, averaging 28 points a game, and what he’s done to bring this team out of a hole after we started 6–21 — to be where we are today.”
Leading the Clippers’ Turnaround
Leonard’s impact has been especially evident since late December. The Moreno Valley, Calif., native has scored at least 20 points in a career-high 28 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak in the NBA.
Since Dec. 20, Leonard is averaging 30.2 points while shooting 50.4% from the floor and 41.7% from beyond the arc. Over that span, he has led the Clippers to a 17–5 record — the highest winning percentage in the league during that stretch.
The highlight of his season came Dec. 28, when Leonard poured in a career-high 55 points against Detroit. For his performance that week, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 29.
A Resume Few Can Match
Already one of the most decorated two-way players of his generation, Leonard is a two-time NBA Finals MVP (2014, 2019) and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016). He owns career averages of 20.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals.
Leonard has been named to six All-NBA teams, seven All-Defensive teams, and was selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team — a testament to both his longevity and his impact on the game.
Now, with the All-Star spotlight coming to Inglewood, Leonard will have a chance to shine on his home floor — a fitting stage for a season that has reaffirmed his place among the NBA’s elite.