Kawhi Leonard is an All-Star after all.
What would have been a historic all star snub was avoided Tuesday when Kawhi Leonard was named an All-Star
Leonard was initially left off both the All-Star starters and reserves list despite posting career-high scoring numbers and leading the NBA in average steals while he's taken off over the past few months.
This season, Leonard is averaging 27.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. After being limited by injuries early in the season, Leonard has exploded as the star that Los Angeles Clippers fans have come to rely on and he's been without a doubt the biggest part of the Clippers' recent surge of wins.
Reviewing Leonard's Case
Leonard's numbers arguably would have warranted an All-Star starter slot in the stacked Western Conference, and the fact that it initially looked like he wasn't going to be an All-Star at all caused outrage amongst fans.
Fans especially targeted that outrage toward LeBron James, who was named a reserve despite having worse numbers than Leonard across the board.
But now that crisis has been avoided and Leonard's selection also means that the Clippers will finally be represented in the All-Star weekend that's being hosted at there home stadium of Intuit Dome.
USA vs. The World
Leonard was named to the team to fill out the team USA roster that the new USA vs. the world All-Star format requires to make the weekend happen as planned.
In an attempt to drum up more excitement around the All-Star Game, instead of just a singular game between the best of the western and east conferences, there will instead be a tournament between two teams of American born All-Stars and one team of international born All-Stars facing off over three days at Intuit dome.
The crop of players were still selected based on Eastern and Western conference divides, but the new format requires that there be 16 American-born players to fill out the two rosters, which is where Leonard comes in.
Leonard has been assigned to USA Stripes, alongside fellow veterans like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
It was a selection that happened later than deserved, but either way Clippers fans will be able to see one of their own representing the USA All-Stars on their home court over All-Star Weekend.
It still remains to be seen if the NBA's attempt at generating more excitement around All-Star weekend will actually happen with the new tournament, but no matter the results, Leonard will be there.