Homegrown star Kawhi Leonard cherishes playing for fans at his local All-Star Game.
The Los Angeles Clippers are heading into the All-Star break on a high note, and Kawhi Leonard is the biggest reason why.
The two-time Finals MVP has been playing some of the best basketball of his career, and now he gets to show it off in front of the home fans when the 75th NBA All-Star Game tips off at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday.
Leonard was asked about what playing in the All-Star Game at his home arena means to him, and his answer was simple and honest.
"Just the fans. Giving back to the fans," Leonard said. "When I was growing up, I loved going to the games and to the convention center and seeing some type of NBA players...having fun in that basketball game."
For a player who grew up in the Los Angeles area and went to high school in Riverside, the chance to play in the All-Star Game on his home floor carries real weight.
Leonard was initially left off the roster when starters and reserves were announced, a snub that sparked backlash around the league.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver eventually added Leonard to the USA player pool, making him a seven-time All-Star and giving the host team at least one representative on the floor.
The Case Was Clear
From a numbers standpoint, leaving Leonard off the initial roster was hard to justify.
Through 41 games, he is averaging 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field.
His scoring average is a career high, he leads the NBA in steals per game, and he has scored 20 or more points in 33 straight games.
Leonard has been the driving force behind the Clippers' turnaround from a rough 5-16 start to their current 26-28 record.
Closing Out on a Game-Winner
Leonard made sure the Clippers went into the All-Star break feeling good about themselves.
In Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets (33-20), Leonard scored 19 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and finished it off with a spinning fadeaway jumper through contact with just two seconds left to give the Clippers a 105-102 comeback win.
He also pulled down 12 rebounds and had four steals, outdueling Kevin Durant, who led Houston with 21 points.
The Clippers trailed by as many as 15 but Leonard took over down the stretch like only a handful of players in the league can.
"We love to hoop," Leonard said after the win. "Guys kept their heads in the game. They wanted to compete."
An All-Star on His Home Floor
The Clippers have gone through a lot of changes this season, trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac before the deadline while bringing back younger players and draft picks.
Through all of it, Leonard has remained the constant, averaging 28.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists since the start of 2026.
Head coach Ty Lue has called him the best player in the NBA over the last six weeks.
Now Leonard gets to soak it all in at Intuit Dome this weekend.
For a guy who grew up loving the All-Star Game as a kid, playing in one on his home floor means something special.