The NBA announced the reserve players for the East and West NBA All-Star teams on Sunday. Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard was considered a frontrunner to make the Western Conference team but was ultimately left off the roster. NBA coaches…
The NBA announced the reserve players for the East and West NBA All-Star teams on Sunday. Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard was considered a frontrunner to make the Western Conference team but was ultimately left off the roster.
NBA coaches selected the following seven players over Leonard to be reserves for the Western Conference team:
- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James
- Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards
- Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray
- Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren
- Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant
- Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker
- Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija
The Western Conference has a surplus of top players, so making the All-Star team is no easy feat. Los Angeles Clippers veteran James Harden was also left off the roster, despite becoming the No. 9 all-time leading scorer in the NBA this season.
But the exclusion of Leonard was extra shocking, especially because he has been one of the best players in the league over the past few weeks. Leonard has helped lead the Clippers from a 6-21 start to a now 23-25 record.
“Kawhi, to me, the last 6 weeks, has been the best player in the NBA,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, per the Clippers on X.
“Kawhi, to me, the last 6 weeks, has been the best player in the NBA.” – Tyronn Lue
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 2, 2026pic.twitter.com/yG3OvqTMPG
Leonard ranks seventh across the NBA with an average of 27.6 points per game and leads the NBA with an average of two steals per game. Only Edwards and West All-Star starters Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander average more points than Leonard this season.
NBA Insider Says Leonard Was Biggest Snub From All-Star Roster
Selecting James over Leonard to represent the Western Conference was arguably the most controversial decision made by NBA coaches.
With this season’s selection, James has earned an NBA-record 22 All-Star selections throughout his career. He did not make the All-Star team as a rookie but has made the team every season since then.
But statistically, Leonard is stronger than James in nearly every category this season. NBA insider Kevin Pelton said Leonard was the clear choice over James, and that his exclusion from the West roster was the most shocking.
“Kawhi Leonard,” Pelton wrote about which player was most surprising to be seen left off the roster. “He has been a top-10 player this season, and after a dreadful start, the LA Clippers have been one of the league’s hottest teams since Christmas. Anthony Edwards was the only West reserve I would have picked over Leonard. If I were taking a multitime Finals MVP playing in L.A., Leonard was an easy choice over James.”
This would have been Leonard’s seventh All-Star game of his career. But now, the Clippers will have no representatives at an All-Star game that is set to be played at the Intuit Dome.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard Shockingly Left Off NBA West All-Star Roster appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Category: General Sports
