Tyronn Lue’s honest reaction to Kawhi Leonard’s All-Star snub

The Los Angeles Clippers have seen their season turn around in the last month and a half thanks to All-Star-level contributions from a superstar Kawhi Leonard. But the absurd numbers and the wins that came with it weren’t enough to earn him a spot on the show in mid-February.

The NBA announced the All-Star reserves on Sunday night during a special Sunday Night Basketball broadcast, and LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard’s name was not one of the players voted by NBA head coaches to play in the Feb. 15 All-Star Game.

It is the first time in NBA history that a player with Leonard’s season average has not been named to the NBA All-Star Game. Through 34 games, Kawhi Leonard is having by far the best season of his NBA career and it was expected to be enough to earn him the nod as a backup.

Leonard is averaging 27.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from three and 93.6 percent from the free throw line. The points per game average is a personal career high, while the free throw shooting and steals per game averages lead the entire NBA.

The Clippers, who will host the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at their brand new arena, the Intuit Dome, and were hoping to have player representation at the game.

Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue took a measured approach when asked about Leonard being snubbed as an NBA All-Star.

“It was tough,” Lue explained ahead of Sunday night’s win against the Phoenix Suns. “Congratulations to all the guys who made it. They all deserve it, too. But Kawhi, I mean, the last six weeks to me has been the best player in the NBA. Like you said, 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three and 90 percent from the free throw line, averaging 28 points a game, and what his team did at 1-6. To be where we are today, that was hard to see, so I feel bad for Kawhi, but I’m happy for of all the guys who were chosen.

The NBA All-Star reserves were announced Sunday night, with Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets, Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Danny Avdia of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Blazers.

If NBA commissioner Adam Silver makes an injury replacement sometime between now and the All-Star Game, Kawhi Leonard appears to be a likely candidate to be named.