Kawhi Leonard Shares Honest Take on NBA's Best Player Debate

The Clippers star weighs in on the ever-changing conversation around the league's top player.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shared his honest thoughts on the ongoing debate around who is the best player in the NBA. Leonard, who has been playing at an MVP level since December, acknowledged that the title of "best player" is constantly shifting as different stars take turns dominating the league.

Why it matters

Leonard's comments provide an interesting perspective from one of the NBA's elite two-way players. As the league continues to be filled with superstar talent, the conversation around who is the best player remains fluid and subjective, with Leonard suggesting the ranking is "just based on keeping the hype around the game."

The details

Since before Christmas, Leonard has been playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 30 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.2 steals on 49/40/89 shooting splits to help the Clippers climb back into playoff position after a slow start. Despite his stellar play, Leonard was initially left off the All-Star roster, though he was later added as an injury replacement.

  • On February 16, 2026, Kawhi Leonard shared his thoughts on the best player in the NBA debate.
  • Since December 20, 2025, the Clippers have gone 20-7 with Leonard playing at an MVP level.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

A star forward for the Los Angeles Clippers who has been playing at an elite level since December 2025.

Los Angeles Clippers

An NBA team based in Los Angeles that has climbed back into playoff position after a slow start to the season.

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What they’re saying

“For me, it's like rotation. Everyday. Every week. You get guys coming out scoring 50, having great defensive games. And the next night, somebody's not playing well, somebody else is gonna shine. For me, the ranking is just based on keeping the hype around the game.”

— Kawhi Leonard (NBA)

“I feel like I'm one of the best at when I am playing basketball.”

— Kawhi Leonard (NBA)

The takeaway

Leonard's comments highlight the fluid and subjective nature of the NBA's best player debate, as different stars take turns dominating the league. His perspective as an elite two-way player provides an interesting counterpoint to the constant media discussion around who is the league's top player.