2025-11-20 11:01
NBA Vote Kawhi Leonard: Will He Make the All-Star Team This Season?
As I sit here watching the NBA season unfold, I can't help but focus on one particular question that's been buzzing around basketball circles: will Kawhi Leonard make this year's All-Star team? Having followed his career since his San Antonio days, I've witnessed both his incredible highs and frustrating lows. The man they call "The Claw" presents one of the most fascinating cases in modern basketball - a player whose talent is undeniable when he's on the court, but whose availability has become increasingly questionable over recent seasons.
Let me take you back to that moment last month when Kawhi hit that game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer against Golden State. The former MVP then buried the game winning three right at the buzzer, sending the pro-Ginebra crowd at the Big Dome in frenzy. I remember watching that shot and thinking, "This is the Kawhi we need to see more often." That single moment encapsulated everything that makes him special - the cold-blooded precision, the clutch gene, the ability to rise to the occasion when everything's on the line. But here's the thing about Kawhi - we see these flashes of brilliance, these reminders of his superstar capabilities, yet they're often separated by stretches of games where he's either managing his load or sidelined completely.
Looking at the numbers through December, Kawhi has appeared in roughly 65% of his team's games, which honestly concerns me when we're talking about All-Star consideration. He's averaging 24.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting an impressive 48.7% from the field and 39.2% from three-point range. These are solid numbers, no question, but are they enough to secure an All-Star spot in the loaded Western Conference? I've been tracking player performances for over a decade, and what strikes me about this season's Western Conference forward competition is how incredibly deep it is. You've got established stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant practically guaranteed spots, rising talents like Anthony Edwards making strong cases, and consistent performers like Paul George fighting for recognition.
What really worries me, and I'm being completely honest here, is the pattern we've seen develop over the past three seasons. Kawhi has missed significant portions of each campaign due to various injuries and load management. Last season, he sat out 22 games before the All-Star break alone. This season, while he's looked phenomenal in stretches, he's already missed 12 games due to what the team calls "injury management." I understand the need to protect players' long-term health, but when we're talking about All-Star selections, availability matters. Fans want to see their All-Stars actually playing games, not sitting on the bench in street clothes.
The voting breakdown presents another layer of complexity. Having analyzed All-Star selection patterns for years, I've noticed that fan voting tends to favor either perennial superstars or breakout sensations. Kawhi falls somewhere in between these days - he's certainly established, but he's not generating the same buzz as some younger players. Media votes often prioritize consistency and availability, while player votes can go either way. My prediction? Kawhi will likely receive strong support from players who respect his two-way dominance, but might struggle in the fan voting component unless he strings together several highlight-reel performances in the coming weeks.
Let me share a personal observation from covering the NBA - the landscape has shifted dramatically since Kawhi's championship run with Toronto. Back then, he was unquestionably a top-five player in the league. Today, while his skills remain elite when he plays, the league has become younger and more saturated with talent. Players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Domantas Sabonis are putting up monster numbers night after night, and they're doing it while rarely missing games. In my view, this creates a difficult environment for part-time superstars to make All-Star teams, regardless of their pedigree.
The Clippers' team success could play a crucial role here. Currently sitting at fourth in the Western Conference with a 22-12 record, they're positioned well, but they'll need to maintain this pace to bolster Kawhi's case. From what I've seen, voters often reward players from successful teams, and if the Clippers can climb to the top two in the West by the time voting concludes, that might just push Kawhi over the edge. His partnership with Paul George has been particularly effective this season, with the duo posting a net rating of +12.3 when sharing the court - that's championship-level stuff.
Here's where I might ruffle some feathers: I believe Kawhi still deserves an All-Star spot, but barely. When he plays, he remains one of the most impactful two-way forwards in basketball. His defensive prowess, though slightly diminished from his peak, still ranks in the 92nd percentile among forwards according to advanced metrics I've been studying. Offensively, he's shooting 58% on two-pointers, which is remarkably efficient for a high-volume scorer. The problem, and it's a significant one, is that we simply don't see enough of him. In a conference stacked with talented forwards putting up big numbers every night, missing 15-20 games before the All-Star break could prove fatal to his chances.
The coaching decision aspect fascinates me. Western Conference coaches, who will select the reserves, tend to value different qualities than fans do. They appreciate defensive specialists, veterans who understand winning basketball, and players who make their teammates better. Kawhi checks all these boxes, which might work in his favor. However, coaches also value availability and consistency, areas where Kawhi has struggled. It creates this fascinating tension where his basketball IQ and two-way capabilities argue for inclusion, while his absences argue against it.
Reflecting on similar situations from past seasons, I recall players like Kyrie Irving making All-Star teams despite missing significant time, but typically only when their on-court production was so spectacular that it overshadowed their absences. Kawhi's production, while excellent, hasn't reached that transcendent level this season. He's been very good rather than truly dominant, and in today's NBA, "very good" might not be enough when you're missing nearly 40% of your team's games.
As we approach the midseason mark, I'm keeping a close eye on several factors that could swing the decision. If Kawhi can put together a sustained run of 15-20 games where he plays at an elite level without missing time, that would dramatically improve his chances. Similarly, if the Clippers can separate themselves as clear title contenders, that narrative might carry him into the All-Star game regardless of games played. The injury status of other Western Conference forwards will also play a role - if one or two leading candidates go down with injuries, that opens up spots for players like Kawhi.
Ultimately, my gut tells me this will be one of the closest All-Star selections in recent memory. Kawhi Leonard exists in this strange space between legend and question mark, between past glory and present reality. Having watched hundreds of his games throughout his career, I know what he's capable of at his best. But the All-Star game isn't about what players can do - it's about what they're actually doing, night after night. As much as I appreciate Kawhi's greatness and would love to see him in the All-Star game, I have to acknowledge that in this particular season, with this particular level of competition, he might just fall short. The Western Conference is simply too deep, and the games played column might prove too difficult to overcome. Still, if anyone can defy expectations and remind everyone why he's a two-time Finals MVP, it's Kawhi Leonard. I'll be watching closely, like many of you, to see how this compelling story unfolds.
