Kawhi Leonard Snubbed, LeBron James Makes 2026 All Stars

Merlin sees the spark: Kawhi Leonard was left off the 2026 Western Conference All-Star reserves while Chet Holmgren, Devin Booker, Deni Avdija and LeBron James were chosen. By numbers and role, Leonard’s case was strong—he leads in steals, takes on opponents’ best scorers nightly, and ranks among the top players in advanced metrics—so the omission feels notable. Merlin knows why votes went the way they did: games played, Holmgren’s team success next to Shai, Avdija checking an international box, and a veteran bump for LeBron. Still, calling the snub a "farce" reflects how many see the result. Expect debates over coach voting and roster criteria to grow louder as the season moves toward All-NBA talks.