Kawhi Leonard is averaging 27.9 points and two steals per game, placing him seventh and second in the NBA respectively. However, he was not selected as an All-Star reserve for the game in his own arena.
The coaches picked seven reserves for the Western Conference but overlooked Leonard, possibly due to the controversy surrounding his alleged “no-show” endorsement deal with a Clippers sponsor. This issue is still under investigation, and the league may have wanted to avoid making it a focal point during the All-Star event.
Kawhi Leonard’s Performance Deserves All-Star Status
Leonard is currently putting up 27.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 49.5% overall and 39.1% from three-point range across 35 games. In comparison, LeBron James is averaging 21.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists with a shooting percentage of 50.5% and 32.9% from beyond the arc, despite playing four fewer games.
While Leonard may not be the leading scorer in NBA history, he is amid a controversy regarding salary-cap compliance. He allegedly received over $28 million from Aspiration, the jersey patch sponsor for the Clippers, without any obligations to promote the company. Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March 2025.
With the Clippers set to host the All-Star Game on February 15 at the Intuit Dome, Leonard’s situation could be a major topic, particularly if he is the sole Clipper represented (James Harden also did not make the team). There may have been pressure on coaches to consider players like James and Devin Booker instead of rewarding the Clippers amidst these allegations.
Clippers Investigation Will Take Time
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted back in October that the investigation into the Clippers’ alleged misconduct would take time due to its complexity and the parallel federal investigation of Aspiration founder Joseph Sanberg, who admitted guilt to defrauding investors of $248 million in August 2025.
It is generally simpler for the NBA to impose penalties after the season concludes. Leonard’s contract is active through 2026-27, and if the NBA finds any illegality, voiding the contract in summer would ease potential chaos compared to letting a star become a free agent midseason. Any penalties for the Clippers involving draft picks or salary cap issues would also be more manageable in the offseason.
During All-Star Weekend, Silver and the league will face inquiries regarding the Clippers and team owner Steve Ballmer. It would be more convenient to respond by stating, “This is part of an ongoing investigation,” especially with the federal case already underway.
Leonard may still be called up as an injury replacement, but his history of avoiding media interactions makes it likely that he would prefer to stay home. Even with his impressive performance this season, the NBA seems to be honoring Leonard’s ongoing legacy of missing games.