Did Aspiration scandal keep Kawhi Leonard off All-Star team?

Kawhi Leonard averages 27.9 points and two steals per game, seventh and second in the NBA, respectively. Yet, he wasn't named an All-Star reserve for a game played at his home arena.

Coaches chose seven reserves for the Western Conference team but passed on Leonard, perhaps because of the scandal about his alleged "no-show" endorsement deal with a Los Angeles Clippers sponsor. The coaches and the league may not have wanted the NBA's annual showcase to focus on an issue still being investigated.

Kawhi Leonard has the statistics of an All-Star

Leonard is averaging 27.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 39.1 percent on three-pointers in 35 games. By contrast, LeBron James averages 21.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists, while shooting 50.5 percent overall and 32.9 percent on threes in four fewer games.

Granted, Leonard is not the NBA's all-time scoring leader. Nor are James and his team embroiled in a controversy over salary-cap circumvention. Leonard allegedly received over $28M from Aspiration, the Clippers' jersey patch sponsor, but wasn't required to promote the company, mention the company or do anything he "objected to." Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March 2025.

With the Clippers hosting the All-Star Game on Feb. 15 at their new arena, the Intuit Dome, Leonard's deal would almost certainly be a big topic of conversation, especially if he were the only Clipper in the game (James Harden didn't make the team, either). Perhaps the NBA gently nudged coaches, who vote on the All-Star reserves, to consider players like James and Devin Booker. Or perhaps they don't want to reward the Clippers for potentially circumventing the salary cap.

NBA's Clippers investigation unlikely to conclude soon

Back in October, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league's investigation of the Clippers' alleged wrongdoing would "take some time." That's both due to the complexity of the issues and the federal investigation of Aspiration founder Joseph Sanberg, who pleaded guilty in August 2025 to defrauding investors of $248M.

But it's also far easier for the NBA to dole out discipline after the season is over. Leonard's contract runs through 2026-27. If the NBA finds the contract was illegal, then voiding Leonard's deal in the summer creates far less chaos than a superstar suddenly becoming a free agent at midseason. Should the Clippers be penalized draft choices or given a salary-cap-related punishment, that's also far simpler during the offseason.

Silver and the NBA will already have to face questions about the Clippers and team owner Steve Ballmer during All-Star Weekend. It's far easier if they can deflect questions by saying, "This is part of an ongoing investigation," especially given the existing federal case.

Leonard could still make the game as an injury replacement, but given the star's reluctance to speak with the media — which long predated this scandal — he might prefer to stay home. After all, even though he's playing at an incredible level this season, the NBA is ultimately honoring the lasting legacy of Leonard's Clippers career: sitting out games.