Clippers guard Kobe Sanders posts 26-point high as role player
The second-year wing is averaging 11 points and 3.1 rebounds in seven games while mentoring rookie Keaton Wagler.
By Amelia Gupta ·
The Los Angeles Clippers roster features two guards who share similar physical builds and hairstyles, yet their paths to the NBA differ sharply. One is a top-five draft prospect playing with high expectations, while the other is a late second-round pick who earned his spot through performance.
Kobe Sanders, the late second-round selection out of Nevada, is currently averaging 11 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across seven games in the 2026-27 season. His production includes a career-high 26 points in a 125-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. Sanders, who signed a four-year, $11.2 million deal in July, previously averaged 7.3 points on his two-way contract during his rookie year.
The guard credits his development to learning how to manage expectations after entering the league as a primary scorer in college. He cited veterans Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. as key mentors who helped him adapt to a supporting role. Sanders noted that both players entered the NBA through non-traditional paths, having spent time in the G League before securing stable contracts.
Dunn, the No. 5 pick in the 2016 draft, joined the Clippers in 2024 on a three-year, $16.3 million sign-and-trade deal. His defensive presence has become a mainstay for the team. Sanders said he leaned heavily on Dunn and Jones Jr. to improve his own defensive intensity and ball handling.
Assistant coach Brian Shaw praised Sanders for his work ethic, stating that the player puts in his time and serves as a perfect example of the team's philosophy on paying dues. Shaw described Sanders as a talented ball handler capable of managing pressure from opposing teams. Sanders missed training camp and preseason this year due to a hip impingement suffered during a workout.
Sanders is also closely watching the development of Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 overall pick in June. Wagler, who played one season at Illinois, is averaging a high volume of free throw attempts despite his 6-5, 188-pound frame. He has attempted 46 free throws in seven games, shooting 84.8 percent. Sanders admires Wagler's poise and ability to maintain impact regardless of shooting struggles.
The Clippers host the Miami Heat on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Intuit Dome. The game will be broadcast on Clippervision and 570 AM.
