{"id":605421,"date":"2026-02-16T00:38:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T00:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/605421\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T00:38:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T00:38:23","slug":"the-internet-cant-believe-kawhi-leonards-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/605421\/","title":{"rendered":"The internet can’t believe Kawhi Leonard’s night"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kawhi Leonard<\/a> turned the NBA All-Star Game<\/a> into a one-man show. Fittingly, the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> star put on a show in his home arena.<\/p>\n

Leonard exploded by scoring 23 points \u2014 including 15 straight in Game 3 of USA versus the World.<\/p>\n

15 STRAIGHT POINTS. 23 FOR THE GAME.<\/p>\n

KAWHI LEONARD IS GOING OFF \ud83d\ude2e<\/p>\n

USA Stripes has the lead late\u2026 watch here: https:\/\/t.co\/uaP8VtXA3D<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/yfD9LBTDHq<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HAScoYGr39<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Leonard sparked immediate reactions from inside the arena to the internet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is his arena,\u201d NBC Sports analyst and past all-star Vince Carter said during the intermission period.<\/p>\n

But the internet became besides itself in watching Leonard go off on the scoring end.<\/p>\n

Notable reactions for Kawhi Leonard breakout NBA All-Star performance\"KawhiWilliam Liang-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Fans reacted swiftly to Leonard’s potential Most Valuable Player performance \u2014 including one bringing back one of his more famous quotes.<\/p>\n

Kawhi ending the World team propaganda pic.twitter.com\/iOu7lw8Iw3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Olympic Zoom (@olympic_zoom) February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Athletic reacted by mentioning how the past All-Star wasn’t initially voted in by coaches<\/a>.<\/p>\n

His team the Clippers even showered him with love \u2014 including typing his name in all caps.<\/p>\n

KAWHI ANTHONY LEONARD\u203c\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/n6U55CmQxG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Leonard dropped 31 points through the new format \u2014 pulling off the uncanny feat in just 12 minutes. Sirius XM radio personality Rob Perez called it<\/a> \u201cOne of the best All-Star performances you\u2019ll see, in a game where the players are actually trying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joined in on the internet praise.<\/p>\n

NBA All Star is back. Kawhi vs Wemby
\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Leonard told NBA insider Chris Haynes<\/a> he had hoped this year’s festivities would become more competitive.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets out there first,\u201d Leonard said to Haynes. \u201cFor me, personally, we should just go back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it’ll be competitive this year. I don’t know how the format is. But hopefully, guys are out there competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Safe to say he took this game seriously.<\/p>\n