INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard is headed to the All-Star Game after all.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver named the Los Angeles Clippers forward to the U.S. player pool for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, which will be held Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome. Leonard becomes the lone Clippers representative during All-Star Weekend and earns the seventh All-Star selection of his career.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday January 22nd, 2026 in Inglewood, California.
Leonard, 34, was initially left off the list of the first 24 All-Stars, a decision that sparked conversation around the league given his level of play this season. True to form, Leonard brushed off the snub after the Clippers’ game Monday night, framing it as part of a career built on persistence rather than expectation.
“It’s never an expectation for me,” Leonard said. “I was a guy that had to work my way into those conversations. It is what it is. I’m gonna enjoy my time.”
Asked if he would have liked to be chosen outright, Leonard didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, of course. Every player does,” he said. “But they all deserve it. They all put in the hard work and are putting up great numbers. Congratulations to everybody.”
Silver’s decision ensures Leonard will represent the Clippers on their home floor when the league showcases its stars in Inglewood. Under the revamped All-Star format, the 75th edition of the game will feature two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players, with a minimum of 16 U.S. players required. Leonard was added after the initial selections to meet that threshold.
From a basketball standpoint, the case was straightforward. Leonard is in the midst of one of the most efficient and productive seasons of his career, averaging a career-high 27.6 points per game — seventh-best in the NBA — along with 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Defensively, he continues to set the tone, leading the league with 2.06 steals per game across 36 appearances.
For the Clippers, Leonard’s All-Star nod serves as validation of both his health and his sustained two-way dominance. For Leonard, it’s another quiet milestone — one that will now be celebrated at Intuit Dome, in front of a home crowd that has watched him play some of his best basketball yet.