4 Players Kawhi Leonard Should Beat Out for a 2026 NBA All-Star Spot

When the NBA officially revealed the 2026 All-Star reserves on Sunday, most of the reaction focused on what didn’t happen rather than what did.

The Eastern Conference selections were largely expected. Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Scottie Barnes, and Jalen Duren all had seasons strong enough to justify their inclusion, and none of those names raised many eyebrows.

The Western Conference, however, told a very different story.

Kawhi Leonard being left off the All-Star roster wasn’t just surprising — it was borderline unbelievable.

Several of the players who made the cut have reasonable cases. It’s hard to argue too strongly against stars like Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, or Kevin Durant earning reserve spots. But when you dig deeper into the list, the omissions become harder to explain. Seeing Chet Holmgren, Devin Booker, and Deni Avdija selected ahead of Leonard feels like a stretch at best.

And then there’s LeBron James.

At this stage of the season, giving LeBron an All-Star nod over Kawhi isn’t just debatable — it defies logic when you look at impact, efficiency, and two-way value. Kawhi has been the more complete player, night after night.

Below, we break down exactly why Kawhi Leonard had the strongest case of anyone left out, and why several of the players chosen ahead of him simply don’t measure up.

Kawhi Leonard vs. Chet Holmgren

To be fair, there is a legitimate case for Chet Holmgren making the All-Star team. In fact, it’s a strong one.

Advanced impact metrics consistently rank Holmgren as a top-15 player this season, and he’s doing it on an Oklahoma City Thunder team cruising toward 60+ wins. Defensively, he’s the backbone of an elite unit, anchoring a Thunder defense that sits among the very best in the league.

That said, once you put Kawhi Leonard and Chet Holmgren side by side, the contrast becomes impossible to ignore.

Head-to-Head Snapshot

On paper, Holmgren holds his own in efficiency and rim protection. But context matters, and this is where the gap widens quickly.

Leonard operates as a true offensive focal point. He draws the opponent’s best perimeter defender every night, creates late-clock offense, and carries the scoring burden when plays break down. Holmgren, meanwhile, benefits greatly from playing alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the league’s premier shot creators.

That difference shows up clearly:

• Nearly 70% of Holmgren’s made field goals are assisted

• Only 42.5% of Kawhi’s baskets come via assists

Simply put, Kawhi manufactures his own offense far more often, under far more pressure.

Yes, Holmgren has appeared in nine more games than Leonard, and availability is a reasonable tiebreaker. But this wasn’t a dead-even debate where games played should decide it. When you weigh role difficulty, responsibility, and two-way impact, Kawhi Leonard’s résumé stands noticeably taller.

If this was about who has the heavier lift — and the greater individual influence — the answer shouldn’t have been close.

Kawhi Leonard vs. Devin Booker

With Devin Booker, this debate finally looks fair on the surface.

Like Kawhi Leonard, Booker is a true offensive centerpiece. He’s the Suns’ primary scoring option, regularly drawing the opponent’s toughest perimeter defender and facing tailored defensive schemes designed to slow him down.

Team context also matters.The Los Angeles Clippers stumbled out of the gate and spent much of the season searching for consistency. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have been one of the league’s most pleasant surprises, outperforming expectations and stacking quality wins.

But once you dig into the numbers — and the film — this comparison quickly tilts in one direction.

Statistical Comparison

Booker’s playmaking edge stands out, especially in assists. He’s grown more comfortable as a facilitator and has handled that responsibility well within Phoenix’s system.

Kawhi Leonard vs. Deni Avdija

Deni Avdija’s first All-Star selection is a great storyline.

Portland wasn’t supposed to be competitive this season. Yet here they are, outperforming expectations — largely because Avdija has evolved into a legitimate point-forward, handling the ball, initiating offense, and filling up the box score.

That context matters.But so does impact.

Despite Avdija’s breakout, the Trail Blazers are actually outscored during his meaningful minutes. And when you zoom in on the details, the gap between him and Kawhi Leonard becomes much clearer.

Head-to-Head Numbers

Avdija does a few things better.He rebounds more.He creates more for others.

But the trade-offs are significant.

Why the Case Falls Apart

A few things stand out immediately:

• Leonard generates nearly triple the steals, a massive indicator of defensive disruption.

• Avdija commits almost twice as many turnovers, despite playing a less demanding scoring role.

• Kawhi is more efficient as a scorer and far more impactful when on the floor.

Even before factoring in defense — which heavily favors Leonard — the efficiency and ball-security gap alone should tilt this debate.

Kawhi Leonard vs. LeBron James

This is where the decision fully collapses under scrutiny.

There’s no statistical, contextual, or impact-based argument that puts LeBron James ahead of Kawhi Leonard this season. The only real explanation is reputation — and reputation alone shouldn’t decide All-Star spots.

Side-by-Side Comparison

The contrast is stark.

Leonard scores more.He defends at a higher level.He turns the ball over less.And his presence dramatically improves his team’s performance.

LeBron, meanwhile, has been outscored when he’s on the floor.

Respect vs. Reality

None of this erases how remarkable LeBron’s career has been.

Doing anything at an All-Star level at age 41 is extraordinary. Coaches wanting to honor that longevity is understandable — emotionally, historically, even culturally.

But that’s not what the All-Star Game is supposed to represent.

This selection wasn’t about what LeBron has done.It was about what he’s doing right now.

And right now, he simply hasn’t been better than Kawhi Leonard — or several other players who made the roster.

What the Advanced Metrics Say

Impact metrics are especially unforgiving here:

• Kawhi ranks among the top handful of players in the entire league this season.

• Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Donovan Mitchell consistently grade out higher.

• LeBron, by contrast, doesn’t even land inside the top 50 in most all-in-one models.

That gap isn’t debatable. It’s massive.

The Bigger Problem

Leaving Leonard off the All-Star team isn’t just a tough call or a numbers-versus-narrative debate.

It fundamentally misrepresents the 2026 NBA season.

This wasn’t a borderline decision.It wasn’t a coin flip.And it certainly wasn’t defensible once Leonard’s impact is compared directly to LeBron’s.

Calling it a snub almost feels too gentle.

This was a mistake — plain and simple.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article, make sure to check out our top resources and start your journey with LB9 Online Casino today:

• 🎰 LB9 Official Site – Join the action and explore all our games.

• 📝 LB9 News Home – Stay updated with casino tips, sports insights, and betting news.

• 🎁 Welcome Bonus Guide – Learn how to claim and maximize your LB9 welcome bonus.

• 🖊️ Register Now – Sign up in minutes and claim your exclusive rewards!

👉 Play smarter. Win bigger. Stay ahead with LB9 Online Casino.