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LA Clippers: Agua Caliente standouts of 2020-21

By Jordan German

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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LA Clippers
Feb 17, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) moves past Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) for a basket in the second quarter of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Agua Caliente Prospect: Amir Coffey

I’ve already written another whole article singing the praises of Amir Coffey and the potential he holds. Since writing that article, he has continued to wow me even more. At 6’7″, Coffey is not only the best guard and the best forward the AC Clippers have, he is just overall the best player on the team. Being a two-way player, Coffey has seen plenty of time up on the main squad already, and his numbers down in the G League continue to be solid like they were with the LA Clippers.

Coffey was averaging 18.4 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game to end off his stint in the G-League through just 7 games last season. Surprisingly, he actually had a slump in offensive production from last year’s G League season, and his offensive rating went from 113.2 to 108.1, but because he had such a fantastic 2020-21, his net rating went up from 3.4 in his first season to 6.0 this season. In 8 fewer games, Coffey didn’t have as much of a chance to keep his numbers tied with last season, but he certainly did try.

He can be a lights-out three point shooter at his very best, and that was best seen in his 21 point performance against the G League Ignite. You get such a show with this guy, and if he were to really perfect his stroke, he would become one of the more scary three shooters in the G League. As an added bonus to his offense, this stint in the G League saw his defense improve as well. He went from a 109.8 defensive rating down to a 102.2.

If I haven’t gotten you to come into the Coffey Shop hype group with my last two articles about him, I don’t know who would. I am very confident that Coffey will find his way into a consistent role on the LA Clippers sometime in the very near future, and I could even see him making more of an appearance in the NBA playoffs coming off the bench if the LA Clippers make it this year. It seems like once he hits that sweet spot and gets comfortable with playing in the NBA, he will be a very valuable and important asset to the Clippers.

Next. 3 reasons the LA Clippers should make a trade. dark

In closing, the Agua Caliente Clippers had a less than stellar season, but it is easy to forget about their record when you look at the potential future of LA Clippers basketball with the best five prospects on the team. With Malik Fitts, Emanuel Terry, Jordan Ford, and James Palmer Jr., it is incredibly exciting to think about what could be if they make it, and with Amir Coffey, it brings me a lot of personal joy to watch what I know will be a breakthrough undrafted player that makes the most of his golden opportunity in the NBA.

The 2020-21 season might be one of the more forgettable ones for the AC Clippers in terms of what the team accomplished, but if there is truly anything to take away from it, it would be the personal improvement we saw out of the sophomore and rookie players that could one day catapult them into the spotlight of an appearance in the NBA. And as one more closing thought to prematurely kick-off the 2021-22 list, don’t be surprised if James Palmer Jr. steals Coffey’s spotlight as the number 1 player on the team.

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