Kawhi Leonard Added to 2026 NBA All-Star Game Roster

The NBA announced today, February 3, 2026, that Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers has been added to the U.S. Player pool for the February 15th NBA All-Star Game. The addition was made by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, addressing a shortfall in the number of U.S. Players eligible for the game’s new format.

This year’s All-Star Game will feature a unique tournament-style competition between the U.S. And a team comprised of international players. The format requires a minimum of eight international players and 16 U.S. Players, divided into two U.S. Teams. Initially, only 15 U.S. Players had been selected through fan, player, and media voting, and by the league’s head coaches, necessitating Silver’s intervention to meet the minimum requirement.

The need for Leonard’s addition arose from Karl-Anthony Towns’ decision to represent the Dominican Republic rather than the United States. This shifted the balance, leaving the U.S. Pool one player short. Leonard’s selection brings the total number of U.S. All-Stars to 16, fulfilling the criteria for the new format and marking his seventh All-Star selection overall.

A Boost for the Clippers and Intuit Dome

Leonard’s inclusion not only restores balance to the All-Star rosters but also ensures the host Clippers will have representation in the game. The All-Star Game will be held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the Clippers’ new home arena, and was previously without a representative from the home team. This addition addresses that issue, providing local fans with a player to root for during the festivities.

The Clippers forward is currently averaging a career-high 27.6 points per game, placing him seventh in the NBA in scoring. He also leads the league in steals with 2.06 per game, and contributes 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Leonard is shooting 49.7% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range, and 91.3% from the free throw line – the fourth-best percentage in the league. He has scored at least 20 points in his last 28 games, including a career-high 55-point performance against the Detroit Pistons on December 28th.

Despite a slow start to the season, where the Clippers initially went 6-21, the team has since rebounded with a 17-5 record, improving their playoff contention in the Western Conference. Leonard’s consistent performance has been a key factor in this turnaround.

While Leonard’s availability has often been a concern throughout his 14-year NBA career, he has played in 36 of the Clippers’ 49 games as of today, February 4, 2026, demonstrating a relatively healthy stretch by his standards.

Leonard previously earned the Kobe Bryant Trophy as the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2020. He will be part of the USA Stripes team, with full rosters for all three All-Star teams scheduled to be revealed on Tuesday night, February 10th on Peacock, ahead of a matchup between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks on NBC and Peacock.

The Clippers will also have Yanic Konan Niederhäuser participating in the Rising Stars game on Friday, February 13th. However, Niederhäuser will represent the G League team, having split his playing time between the Clippers and the San Diego Clippers.