Kawhi Leonard’s All-Star count has reached the lucky number seven, and when asked about the meaning behind it in the city he was raised in, given all of the injuries he has triumphed over, the two-time champion boldly underlined his work ethic, and that many would fail in the process of working back to the level of domination he is currently at. These words needed to be said, as Leonard is most criticized for health reasons.
Kawhi Leonard on making his 7th All-Star Game after all the injuries:
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) February 14, 2026
“For the people that don’t know, you should just see the hard work that I put in. You don’t get to see the behind the scenes. To keep getting to a level that I’m getting to, it’s definitely mentally… pic.twitter.com/IY79Up6E3u
Furthermore, Leonard’s response is a fact, and the evidence to prove it is in the numbers; they will never lie. What superstar could deal with a handful of setbacks to their lower extremities, some as severe as a career-altering ACL tear, and bounce back to their best basketball in their mid-30’s?
The answer has only a few names across all of sports, and it is the ultimate testament to how committed Leonard truly is to his craft. He loves the game unconditionally.
Kawhi Leonard deserves flowers for dealing with the toughest challenges
Critics are quick to judge Kawhi Leonard at rock bottom, for example, when Stephen A. Smith recommended retirement following a torn meniscus, yet quiet as a mouse once he returns, and is back to crushing the league on both sides of the ball.
It is outright unfair, which is why Leonard feels the way he does about another All-Star appearance after averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 boards over 41 games. He is one-of-one, and there is no telling otherwise.
Leonard had to have spent thousands on top of thousands of hours in the gym, ramping up his knees in a rinse-and-repeat cycle throughout the years, while ensuring his finishing, jumper, and defensive aggression did not disappear but improved.
It is easy to get complacent, lose confidence, and give up in the time designated for healing. Hence, athletes who sustain such injuries never look the same again. They are typically slower in their movements and essentially become a liability on a hefty contract.
That said, instead of receiving backlash, Leonard should be given props for still being an All-Star and someone more than capable of leading the LA Clippers to the playoffs this season as a first option.
How has he managed to overcome the hurdles he has faced? The world will genuinely never know. No amount of logic or scientific explanation can justify what he has accomplished up to this point, which shows he never cheated the grind; he embraced it.