Kawhi Leonard selected as starter for NBA All-Star Game

Leonard named starter for second consecutive All-Star Game

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SAN ANTONIO – Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard has been named a Western Conference starter for this year’s NBA All-Star Game.

This is Leonard’s second consecutive selection as a starter for All-Star game, which will be played in New Orleans on Feb. 19.

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The other Western Conference starters are Golden State's Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, Houston's James Harden and New Orleans power forward Anthony Davis.

Leonard is having a career year in his sixth season with the Spurs. He is averaging nearly 25 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.

Even more impressive is Leonard's shooting and efficiency this season for San Antonio.

Leonard is shooting 49 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line.

Over the past five games, Leonard has been nearly unstoppable on offense.

He has scored more than 30 points in the each of the past four games. The last Spurs player to accomplish that feat was Tim Duncan during the 2004-05 season.

Leonard has reached the 30-point mark 12 times this season, the most since David Robinson’s 13 30-point games in the first half of the 1995-96 season.

Leonard, the back-to-back NBA Defensive Player of the Year, also typically defends the opponent’s top perimeter offensive threat. 

Leonard scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in last year's All-Star Game in Toronto.

This year's All-Star Weekend will take place from Feb. 17-19. The game will be played at the Smoothie King Center.


About the Author:

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.