Kawhi Leonard received a late call-up to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game after being initially omitted from the coaches’ reserve selections. Despite delivering an outstanding season with career highs such as 27.6 points per game, along with 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and leading the league with 2.1 steals per game, Leonard was not named an All-Star reserve by the coaches. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver intervened to include Leonard, citing the need to complete the roster of 16 U.S. players for the USA vs. World game format scheduled for February 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome, the Los Angeles Clippers’ home court.
This addition ensures the Clippers have representation at the All-Star Game, emphasizing Leonard’s continued relevance in the league despite the initial snub.
Details of the All-Star Game’s USA vs. World Format
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game introduces a fresh competition style, dividing the 24 selected players into three teams: two representing the United States and one representing the World. These teams will compete in a round-robin tournament consisting of three 12-minute games, followed by a championship game between the top two teams. Each team will have at least eight players, with the league office stepping in to add players if needed to meet the minimum roster requirements.
This format coincides with the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, creating a unique scheduling opportunity that brings heightened international attention to the event. The game is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on February 15, earlier than in previous years, to accommodate broader Olympic coverage.
Current USA and World All-Star Lineups Revealed
Before Leonard’s addition, the USA roster included prominent players such as Stephen Curry (Warriors), Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Tyrese Maxey (76ers), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Cade Cunningham (Pistons), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), and LeBron James (Lakers), among others. Leonard now joins this illustrious list, expanding the talent pool to 16 players as required by the format.
The World team features stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), who is expected to miss the game due to a calf injury, Luka Doncic (Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), and Victor Wembanyama (Spurs). Other notable World players include Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Jamal Murray, and Deni Avdija.
Kawhi Leonard’s Response to His Initial All-Star Snub
Following the Clippers’ disappointing loss to the 76ers, Leonard addressed the snub with professionalism and humility. He expressed respect for all players originally named as All-Stars, acknowledging the effort and skill required to earn such recognition, while expressing his own desire to be included. Leonard’s comments reflected his gracious attitude despite the oversight.
“I always want to be named and am honored because it’s a recognition of all the work I put in to reach this level, but all the players who were named also were great players who put in the work, so I had no hard feelings.” – Kawhi Leonard, Forward, LA Clippers
With the commissioner’s addition, Leonard now officially joins his peers for the All-Star festivities.
Broadcast Information for the 75th NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA All-Star Weekend will be fully available on NBC and Peacock platforms, featuring several events across three days. Starting on Friday, February 13, the Rising Stars challenge will showcase rising talents. All-Star Saturday Night on February 14 will feature the highly anticipated 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest. The main event, the All-Star Game itself, will take place on Sunday, February 15.
In alignment with the early start time, the All-Star Game will integrate seamlessly into NBC’s Olympic coverage, emphasizing its significance in a busy sports broadcasting week.
Additional NBA Content on NBC and Peacock Throughout the Season
Beyond All-Star Weekend, Peacock will stream up to three Monday Night NBA games weekly during the regular season, while NBC and Peacock will present Coast 2 Coast Tuesday doubleheaders. Typically, games scheduled at 8 p.m. Eastern Time will air on NBC in the Eastern and Central zones, with 8 p.m. Pacific Time games airing on NBC stations in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. Both games will be streamed live nationwide on Peacock.
Additionally, NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball on February 1, 2026, providing further regular-season NBA coverage across NBC and Peacock.
Accessing the NBA All-Star Game and Other Live Sports via Peacock
Fans interested in watching the All-Star Weekend, along with other live sports, documentaries, and popular shows, can sign up for Peacock. The streaming service offers a range of content including NBA games, sports shows, classic contests, and a broad selection of movies and TV series. With 24/7 channels and original programming, Peacock continues to expand its sports and entertainment offerings for viewers nationwide.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as an addition to the U.S. player pool for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game (Sunday, 2/15 on NBC & Peacock). pic.twitter.com/XRajGpreOQ
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2026
