How Kawhi Leonard Can Earn First All-Star Berth Following Max Contract Extension

One of the few major honors missing from Kawhi Leonard's trophy case is an All-Star berth.

Through four seasons, the 24-year-old has already earned a Finals MVP (2014) a Defensive Player of the Year (2014-15) trophy and NBA All-Defensive first-team (2014-15) recognition.

Leonard deserves the max contract he's prepared to sign once the free agency moratorium period ends. The five-year deal is the largest in NBA history for a zero-time All-Star, per Chris Palmer:

Update: According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, the starting salary for max-contract players with 0-6 years of NBA service will be $16,407,500. Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Leonard's contract will be worth $95.3 million. It remains the largest max deal for a non-All Star.

External pressure on the small forward to develop into a truly elite player will only increase, and an All-Star nod would help silence any late-adopters to his talents.

But what improvement is necessary for Leonard to complete that objective?

Stay Healthy

Paging Captain Obvious, right?

Sure, but here's the thing: Just once has Kawhi made it to mid-February without sustaining a short-term injury. That was during his rookie season, and Leonard was still adapting to the NBA.

In 2012-13, he missed 18 of San Antonio's pre-All Star contests due to a knee injury. One year later, a broken finger sidelined Leonard in January.

Graphic Warning: Accompanying video shows the broken finger.

Last season, "The Claw" again missed 18 games, this time after battling an eye infection and a torn ligament in his hand.

Players who are inactive for that many outings simply don't receive enough attention to appear in the All-Star game—unless it's Yao Ming, Kobe Bryant or another bona fide superstar, that is.

Leonard is certainly effective when healthy, so he'd contend for a spot if an injury doesn't take the San Diego State product off the court.

Nevertheless, Leonard must reverse this particular career trend to warrant All-Star consideration.

Increase Statistical Output

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Defense wins championships, but it's typically not flashy enough to attract All-Star votes.

Though Tim Duncan earned a spot last season largely due to his defensive merits, proficiency in the box score is what matters most.

The following table compares the average stats of the 15 Western Conference All-Stars to Leonard's numbers during the pre-All Star portion of the 2014-15 campaign:

Player	PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	3P%	ORtg
All-Stars	22.1	7.1	4.8	47.0	34.1	108.3
Leonard	15.4	7.5	2.5	44.3	33.9	105.0

Note: Non-volume three-point shooters (Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Marc Gasol and Duncan) were not included in compiling the average three-point percentage.

Even when including Duncan's 14.5 points per game—3.2 lower than any other All-Star—the players who earned the nods dwarfed Leonard's marks.

Granted, it won't be easy for Leonard to raise his offensive numbers since the Spurs will add LaMarcus Aldridge via free agency. The incoming power forward is sure to occupy a featured scoring role, so Leonard's once-increasing involvement in the offense may not rise much further in 2015-16.

Leonard has proved he's capable of controlling the San Antonio attack, but it will take tremendous efficiency to make his scoring ability shine brightly enough while playing alongside Aldridge.

Retain Elite Defensive Form, Keep His Reputation

But you just said offense matters! Indeed.

However, the caveat "typically" is important. In 2014-15, Duncan showed it's possible to earn another All-Star nod, though the future Hall of Famer's legacy probably didn't hurt when coaches voted him in.

Five months later, Leonard officially has a reputation that could earn the extra attention necessary when coaches select the reserves: He's the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

Despite losing the popular vote to versatile Golden State Warriors small forward Draymond Green, Leonard took home the hardware. According to NBA.com, the Spurs star received 333 points and 37 first-place votes, edging Green's 317 and 45, respectively.

Former Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace—a four-time DPOY—established the precedent, appearing in four consecutive All-Star games. From 2002-03 to 2005-06, "Big Ben" averaged only 8.4 points but tallied 2.7 blocks and 1.6 steals.

Leonard recorded a league-leading 96.4 defensive rating and 2.3 steals as well as 0.8 blocks per game last season. If the small forward receives more playing time—which is a distinct possibility since the Spurs lost Marco Belinelli to free agency—Leonard could better those numbers.

Should he manage to accomplish that, sustained offensive production and an injury-free first half would put Leonard squarely in the All-Star conversation.

Then, once coaches factor in Leonard's newly solidified defensive reputation, it could be enough for the all-around weapon to reach his first All-Star game as a reserve.

Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR