The NBA announced the All-Star starters, and Kawhi Leonard’s name was not included. This was certainly something to pitch a fit about, yet fans of the LA Clippers were as certain as a fanbase could be that the two-time champion, having his best offensive season, would be a reserve.
Well, expectations captured the best of Clipper Nation, as they were left disappointed once again; Leonard, averaging 27.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, shooting 49.6% from the floor and 39.5% from a distance, was not voted into the Intuit Dome’s first all-star game.
2026 NBA West All-Star reserves: Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deni Avdija, LeBron James.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 1, 2026
Thus, the disrespect has reached a new low. Leonard is typically well-regarded by his peers and opposing coaches who cast votes, yet this time, he was snubbed, leaving Clippers fans in utter disbelief.
Kawhi Leonard is the biggest All-Star snub of 2026
There is no larger, more credible name on the NBA’s 2026 All-Star snubs list than Kawhi Leonard. He has a majority of the nine yards of accomplishments, and aside from his background, the two-way superstar is leading the NBA in steals per game in his 14th season.
Leonard could easily finish the regular season averaging over 25 points, winning the steals title, and posting 50-40-90 splits, yet he will not have an All-Star selection to back it up.
The only applicable counter to Leonard missing the cut is the LA Clippers’ 6-21 start. His absences during this time, along with his underperformance on both sides of the ball, did not help, and, towards the All-Star roster, these factors were used as a means of a painful snub.
However, if the Clippers turned their season around and Leonard transitioned into a new version of himself, it is not fair to send an honor he deserved elsewhere.
Additionally, Leonard and the Clippers are not done. They are ambitious to finish as a top-six seed. If and when it occurs, the initial All-Star results will appear more laughable to LA fans than they already do.
That said, Leonard has the motivation to dominate the Phoenix Suns tonight. He will be in the mode of scoring, defending, and ultimately winning, to prove that an atrocious mistake was made just before the contest.
Tonight could be viewed in the future as one of the great examples of a superstar quickly demonstrating why he belongs with the best of the best in the Western Conference, and that it was wrong to leave him out.