Following the LA Clippers' three-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James had a ton of praise for Kawhi Leonard when talking about resilience. Given that the two superstars have been competitors for over a decade and have battled in the NBA Finals, there has always been a void of curiosity amongst Clipper Nation about how James really feels. However, it is clear that the four-time champion is a fan and respects the career Leonard has built from scratch.
LeBron James was incredibly complimentary of Kawhi Leonard when I asked him about the resilience he’s seen from him:
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 21, 2026
“Kawhi is awesome, man. He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. I couldn’t care less about the injuries… That guy is awesome. I swear I have nothing… pic.twitter.com/GipDxoJRfX
James’ words correlate directly with the 31 points in 31 minutes Leonard had against the Lakers, but, as mentioned in his response, a ton of admiration stemmed from the 2026 All-Star Game on ‘Team Stripes’, where the two-time champion went off for 31 points in 12 minutes.
Thus, James’ opinion speaks volumes. He is one of the greatest to ever step on the court, so for him to have nothing but endless compliments on Leonard has to be a feel-good moment for Clippers fans all over the world.
Kawhi Leonard has been one of the best players in the league, and LeBron James knows it
It is not just the words LeBron James, the NBA's all-time leader in scoring, said about Kawhi Leonard, but also his body language. His face lit up throughout the response as he ensured to give flowers to the kind of player Leonard has been for the LA Clippers during their turnaround.
This shows that his production has not gone unnoticed. James is on a rivaling team, and just like the media and fans, he has been in awe of Leonard’s 29.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals, shooting 49.4% from the floor, dating back to Dec. 20th, which was coincidentally a matchup versus the Los Angeles Lakers.
Furthermore, how much more obvious could it be that Leonard is neck-and-neck with the best players in the world if James, of all people, is admitting it?
He deserves to have his name in all kinds of MVP talks, All-NBA debates, and, of course, the crown for being elite on both sides of the ball. Believe it or not, at 34 years old, he still has that ‘it’ factor to his skillset.
That said, Clipper Nation thoroughly appreciates the remarks left by James. What he said was like music to the fans’ ears, and ultimately, Leonard received the stamp of approval that not many superstars in the league have.