Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard
Getty
Kawhi Leonard’s All-Star snub sparked strong words from Ty Lue and a deeper debate about how selections are made.
Former NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was left off the Western Conference All-Star roster Sunday night. The decision immediately sparked backlash inside the Los Angeles Clippers organization and across league circles. For Clippers head coach Ty Lue, the omission was not just surprising, it was indefensible.
“Yeah it was tough,” Lue said following the announcement. “I mean, congratulations to all the guys who made it. They all deserved it as well. But Kawhi, I think to me, over the last six weeks has been the best player in the NBA. 50-40-90, averaging 28 points a game, and what he’s done to bring this team out of a hole after we started 6-21, to be where we are today. It was just tough to see. I feel bad for Kawhi, but happy for all of the other guys who got selected.”
A Historic Statistical Resume, Ignored
The numbers support Lue’s frustration. Leonard is averaging a career-high 27.7 points per game. He is also posting 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and a league-leading 2.1 steals. His efficiency stands out even more. Leonard is shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 94 percent from the free-throw line.
No player in NBA history has averaged those numbers over a season and still missed the All-Star team.
Leonard’s recent stretch makes the omission harder to explain. Over his last 17 games, he is averaging 30.5 points on 50.3 percent shooting. He is also hitting 42.6 percent from deep and 91.1 percent at the line. Leonard has added 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game during that span.
The Clippers have gone 17-4 in those games. That surge lifted them from a disastrous 6-21 start to ninth place in the Western Conference. Still, when NBA coaches submitted their All-Star reserve ballots, Leonard’s name did not appear.
Hosting the Game, Watching From Home
The snub carries extra weight because the 2026 All-Star Game will be held at Intuit Dome. The Clippers will host the event in their new home arena. Barring an injury replacement, Leonard will not participate in the game his franchise is hosting. That outcome is rare and awkward for a superstar of his stature.
One comparison has fueled much of the debate: LeBron James, who earned his 22nd straight All-Star selection. James has played well, especially given his age. However, The Athletic’s John Hollinger questioned whether reputation outweighed impact this season.
“An All-Star for the 22nd time, James is unquestionably one of the three greatest players ever, and he probably ain’t third,” Hollinger wrote. “Even at 41, he remains remarkably effective… That said, ‘amazing for 41’ is a very different standard from ‘top-12 player in the Western Conference,’ and he falls short of that bar.”
Others argue James earned the spot over several deserving candidates. That list includes Alperen Şengün and Leonard’s teammate James Harden.
Games played often surface as the main critique of Leonard. That argument does not hold up. Leonard has appeared in 34 games this season. That total matches Victor Wembanyama and exceeds James, who has played 30.
With Harden also missing the cut, the Clippers will have no All-Star representatives at an event they are hosting. That reality stings even more for fans. James, a member of a rival franchise, will serve as the only Los Angeles representative in the building.
Team record may influence voting. Leonard’s production, efficiency, and two-way dominance still make the snub difficult to justify. Over the last six weeks, he has played at an MVP level. This time, excellence was not enough.