Since just before Christmas, Kawhi Leonard has been on a tear - and the rest of the league is starting to feel it. After a sluggish 6-21 start to the season, the Los Angeles Clippers flipped the script, going 20-7 since their December 20 win over the Lakers.
At the center of that turnaround? Leonard, who’s been playing some of the best basketball of his career - and that’s saying something.
"I feel like I'm one of the best at when I am playing basketball." 👀
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026
Kawhi Leonard on how the top player in the NBA changes by the day. pic.twitter.com/wrNR0k3LzD
Over that stretch, Leonard has looked every bit the MVP candidate, averaging 30 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game while shooting a scorching 49% from the field, 40% from deep, and 89% from the line. Those are elite numbers by any measure, and they’re coming with the kind of defensive intensity we’ve come to expect from one of the league’s best two-way forces.
So when the All-Star rosters were announced and Leonard’s name wasn’t on the list? Yeah, that raised some eyebrows.
NBA head coaches passed him over for a reserve spot, a decision that felt increasingly out of step with the level of play he’s been delivering night in and night out. It took a wave of injuries for Commissioner Adam Silver to step in and add Leonard to Team USA Stripes - and Leonard didn’t waste the opportunity.
In front of a home crowd at the Intuit Dome, Leonard made a loud statement in a short amount of time. He dropped 31 points on an absurd 11-of-13 shooting in just 10 minutes of action, helping lead Team USA Stripes to a 48-45 win over Team World.
It wasn’t just efficient - it was surgical. Vintage Kawhi, but with a renewed energy that feels different from years past.
After the game, Leonard offered a typically measured take on the All-Star selection process.
“For me, it's like rotation. Everyday.
Every week. You get guys coming out scoring 50, having great defensive games.
And the next night, somebody's not playing well, somebody else is gonna shine,” Leonard said. “For me, the ranking is just based on keeping the hype around the game.
I feel like I'm one of the best at when I am playing basketball.”
That last line? It hits differently when you’ve watched Leonard over the past two months.
This isn’t just a hot streak - it’s a reminder of who he is when he’s healthy and in rhythm. And right now, he’s both.
Leonard’s recent run is even more impressive considering what he’s battled through over the past few seasons. From 2021 to 2024, it was a revolving door of knee injuries and rehab setbacks that kept him from finding any real consistency - especially in the postseason, where the Clippers needed him most. It was fair to wonder if we’d ever see the same dominant version of Leonard again.
But here we are in 2026, and Leonard looks as healthy and locked in as he’s been since 2019. The explosiveness is back, the midrange is automatic, and the defense?
Still elite. He’s moving with confidence, reading the game like a veteran star who’s seen it all - and still has plenty left in the tank.
With Leonard leading the charge, the Clippers are shaping up to be a dangerous out in the Western Conference, especially once they get Darius Garland back in the mix. They might not be a top seed, but no one’s going to be eager to see them in a seven-game series.
This version of Kawhi Leonard isn’t just good. He’s reminding us what greatness looks like when it’s locked in, healthy, and quietly going to work.