In a league built on production, impact, and consistency, it’s hard to explain how Kawhi Leonard was left off the 2026 NBA All-Star roster.
This season, Leonard has quietly delivered one of the best campaigns of his Hall of Fame career. He’s averaging 27.7 points per game, a career high, while shooting an elite 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 94% at the line. That efficiency puts him in rare territory, especially for a player who also carries major defensive responsibility.
Add in 2.1 steals per game, which leads the NBA, and it becomes clear: Kawhi hasn’t just been good — he’s been dominant on both ends.
Yet somehow, he’s watching All-Star Weekend from home.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Leonard’s 2025–26 resume checks every box:
- Career-high scoring
- Near 50–40–90 efficiency
- League-leading steals
- Top-tier wing defense
- Heavy minutes on a playoff team
These aren’t “borderline” All-Star numbers. These are All-NBA-level numbers.
When healthy, Kawhi has always been one of the league’s most complete players. This season, he’s combined his old defensive dominance with his best offensive output ever. Few players in basketball can match that two-way impact.
The Comparison Makes It Worse
What makes this snub even harder to defend is who made it over him.
Deni Avdija and Chet Holmgren are talented young players with bright futures. But neither has approached Leonard’s overall production, efficiency, or game-to-game influence this season.
Chet has been impressive as a rim protector and stretch big. Deni has grown into a versatile player for Portland. But neither has been carrying an offense, locking down elite scorers, and delivering superstar efficiency the way Kawhi has.
When a top-10 two-way player in the league gets passed over for developing talents, something is wrong with the system.
Reputation vs. Reality
So how did this happen?
The answer likely comes down to perception.
Leonard’s recent injury history has created a narrative that he’s unreliable. Fans and even voters still associate him with load management and missed games, even when he’s been consistently available this season.
But All-Star selections are supposed to be about what’s happening now, not what happened two years ago.
This year, Kawhi has been present, productive, and elite.
Still One of the NBA’s Best
The truth is simple: Leonard is still one of the most feared playoff players in basketball. Coaches still game-plan around him. Opponents still avoid him defensively. Teammates still rely on him late in games.
Leaving him off the All-Star roster doesn’t change that.
If anything, it adds fuel.
History suggests that when Kawhi feels overlooked, he responds with cold, ruthless efficiency — the kind that wins playoff series and silences critics.
Final Word
A player averaging nearly 28 points on elite efficiency, leading the league in steals, and anchoring both ends of the floor should never be watching All-Star Weekend from home.
This isn’t just a snub.
It’s a mistake.
And the rest of the NBA will probably pay for it in April and May.
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