LA Clippers: Agua Caliente standouts of 2020-21

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: A general view during a G-League game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Westchester Kicks at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on February 18, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: A general view during a G-League game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Westchester Kicks at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on February 18, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 10: Jordan Ford #3 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels is introduced before taking on the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 10, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 10: Jordan Ford #3 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels is introduced before taking on the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 10, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Agua Caliente Prospect: Jordan Ford

For the stats that Jordan Ford has put up in his first year in the G League, it is clear that he isn’t too uncomfortable being a rookie. Coming in at 6’1″, Ford is an undersized guard that has really shown that size doesn’t matter if you have the skills to frequently make it to the basket. It is also more incredible to think that his play as a rookie earned him an average of 27.2 minutes on the court every night.

Ford was averaging 13.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 rebounds by the end of his first season in 15 games. His shot isn’t quite there yet, and it isn’t as sharp as it could be, but there is no shame in tacking on another 14+ points for your team on a nightly basis as one of the new kids. With his shot still improving, his field goal percentage was at 47.1, and his three-point percentage was at 43.3. When it comes to free throws, he has some great fundamentals that led him to shoot 92.3%, and these all-around balanced numbers showed great promise for the rookie out of St. Mary’s College. For the Clippers, Ford and Fitts are a good sign to trust St. Mary’s College as a reliable school for prospects.

If he could really just clean up his shooting inconsistency and continue to chip off at that 111.7 defensive rating, Ford would be a great prospect to keep around to see about his usage in the future. It will definitely be a handful of years before he would be at the level he needs to be to join the LA Clippers, but it will be worth the wait if he stays on pace during his sophomore year and improves to see more and more play.