Sports

Kawhi Leonard Receives Major Recognition After 14th NBA Season

Kawhi Leonard finished his 14th NBA season with some of the best individual numbers of his career. The Los Angeles Clippers forward averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists across 65 games while shooting 50.5% from the field during the 2025-26 season. He also earned his seventh NBA All-Star selection and finished top five in steals per game.

Leonard's strong season came amid continued questions about his long-term health after multiple knee injuries limited him over the previous several seasons. The 34-year-old managed one of his healthiest campaigns in recent years while remaining the focal point of the Clippers' offense throughout the season.

The Clippers, however, failed to translate Leonard's production into postseason success. The season ended with a play-in tournament loss to the Golden State Warriors, marking the first time the Clippers failed to reach the playoffs in a season Leonard played.

 LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Away from basketball, Leonard expanded his off-court ventures during the season. He launched Lavish Mountain Productions and released "Kawhi Leonard: Back 2 Nature," a short-form documentary centered around his recovery journey and life outside basketball.

Leonard announced Wednesday on X that the project earned recognition at the 47th Annual Telly Awards across multiple categories.

"The project earned recognition across multiple categories, celebrating the vision, collaboration, and storytelling behind the campaign," Leonard wrote.

The documentary focuses on Leonard's return from years of knee injuries while also highlighting his partnership with New Balance and his personal life away from the court. Produced independently through Lavish Mountain Productions, the project was designed to present a broader look at Leonard beyond basketball.

The Telly Awards, now in their 47th year, recognize achievements in television and video production across documentary, branded content and digital storytelling categories.

Related: Ben Simmons Announces News Away From the NBA

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 3:29 PM.

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