Kawhi Leonard has not played in every game this season but the LA Clippers superstar has had one of the better seasons among the superstars among the Western Conference and he deserves an All-Star Game spot and potentially a chance to captain a team in Chicago on All-Star Weekend.
The LA Clippers made the acquisition of the offseason in the summer of 2019 when they acquired star forward Kawhi Leonard via free agency after his insane run to the NBA Finals with the Toronto Raptors that led to giving The North its first NBA title.
Leonard came home to his roots with the Clippers, playing his high school basketball in California and his collegiate career being played at San Diego State University and Leonard has already placed his mark in Southern California, beating Lebron James and the Lakers in both contests thus far this season and helping lead the Clippers to the number four seed at the time or writing.
All-Star Weekend is always fun for the NBA and determining players that should be represented is always fun, determining team captains and player snubs is great too, but Leonard has clearly earned his All-Star spot and should most definitely be in consideration for captaining a squad in Chicago on February 16.
The Claw knew coming to the Clippers meant he would be the number one option and he has more than proven so, leading the Clippers in points, rebounds, steals, and player efficiency rating. His 25.2 points per game rank ninth in the NBA while his player efficiency rating ranks 10th amongst the association.
In the first returns of fan voting, Leonard ranked third behind Anthony Davis and LeBron James in the frontcourt and Luka Doncic and James Harden overall in the Western Conference.
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The likelihood that Leonard receives a captain spot is unlikely, but if Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo receive captain’s honors, it will be fun to see Leonard play alongside two of the NBA’s youngest stars and showcase his talents in front of a likely sold-out Chicago crowd.
Leonard more than deserves an All-Star spot for his work on the court this season that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet because, yes, he load manages from time-to-time, but when he does showcase his talents, he does so with 100% effort against some of the league’s best.
His season-high in points came against Minnesota on December 13 when he scored 42 points alongside 11 rebounds en route to a 124-110 victory and he has had plenty of other memorable moments including beating the Lakers on opening night and Christmas day as well as giving the Clippers one of their best starts in franchise history.
Leonard will be apart of the festivities in Chicago in February, but fans should consider giving him much more consideration in the Western Conference, considering the two players ahead of him in voting have yet to defeat him head-to-head.
To vote for Leonard and other Clippers players like Paul George, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell, head here and vote often!