The Intuit Dome will have an All-Star playing on his home floor, after all.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been named to the NBA All-Star Game by commissioner Adam Silver, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. Leonard was originally left off the roster after he wasn’t voted in by the fans, media or players as a starter or coaches as a reserve, but the teams were a player short under the new format.
This year’s All-Star Game will be “USA vs. the World.” Three teams — two teams of American players and one team of international players — will compete against each other in a round robin-style tournament on Sunday, Feb. 15. Leonard’s addition brings the total number of U.S. All-Stars to 16, the minimum required.
There was some backlash online after Leonard, who’s averaging a career-high 27.6 points per game, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and a league-leading 2.06 steals in 36 games played this season. He’s also been as efficient as he’s ever been, shooting 49.7%, 39.1% from three-point range and has the fourth-best free throw percentage in the league at 91.3%.
This will be Leonard’s seventh career All-Star selection.
Per the NBA’s statement, the All-Star teams will be revealed at 4 p.m. PT Tuesday night on Peacock during the pregame show ahead of the Boston Celtics-Dallas Mavericks game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard selected for NBA All-Star Game
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