When the NBA revealed its All-Star reserves, the discussion quickly shifted to notable omissions. One of the most mentioned names was Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Leonard’s exclusion stood out for several reasons. He is experiencing a strong scoring season and is excelling at the free-throw line. The All-Star game will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the home venue for his team, yet he won’t be part of the game.
This would have marked Leonard’s seventh All-Star appearance, but now he will simply be watching at home.
On ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Brian Windhorst shared insights connecting Leonard’s exclusion to ongoing rumors regarding the Aspiration scandal.
“The reaction from league executives has been similar across the board regarding Kawhi Leonard not making the team. Players often get overlooked, but with his impressive numbers and the game being held at the Intuit Dome, the question arises: Did coaches choose not to select him due to the improper contract allegations?” Windhorst stated.
This season, Leonard has played 35 games, averaging 27.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He has a shooting percentage of 49.5%, with 39.1% from three-point range, and is achieving a career-high of 92.1% at the free-throw line.